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Today is one of those beautiful spring days, where the sun is shinning and the air is fresh.
Outside its almost like the sun has broken through everyones winter cocoon to find the summer smiles.

I stumbled upon this poem, its wonderful.  Personally it’s the sort of poem I love to hear at a funeral, a message to thoes that life is very very special and to go on to live another day taking from it what you can 

Thank you to http://www.funeralpoemsandreflections.com where I found it.

A few lines from “Life Is A Fragile Thing”:

“Life is a fragile thing
And it can change within an instant
Nothing is safe from the effects of change
No person or possession we’re given

The only things we can hold forever
Are the memories in our hearts
The loves we share upon this earth
Before it comes our time to part

So choose a pathway that brings you joy
Take time for quiet moments each day
Appreciate the challenges that strengthen your soul
And the blessings God sends your way

Don’t let your heart be ruled by anger
It’s just not worth the stress
For the tumult will only expand in your heart
And crowd out happiness

Live each day with wonder and gratitude
For the beauty that surrounds you
And share your abundance generously
It’ll ensure future blessings will surround you

Meekly accept that life’s journey will include
Unexpected, soul-wrenching heartaches
That will bruise your soul and alter the course
You always imagined your life would take

And when that happens you’ll have the choice
To embrace hope or hopelessness
You can’t avoid grief, but you can refuse to accept
A lonely future of bitterness

So choose to be grateful for each moment
With the loved ones you’ve been given…”

2 Christmas poems for thoes of you who are facing the chrstams holidays without your loved one.  We send Christmas blessings to you all xx

Here is a wonderful PDF  on ‘why the holidays hurt’ by the fantastic Dr Bill Webster.

Christmas Without You
by Kaye Des’Ormeaux

It’s going to be a sad Christmas this year
without your laughter & without your cheer.
I’ll miss the sight of you with your Santa’s hat,
and the smile you shared from where you sat.
I’ll think about all the Christmas’s in the past,
and hold to the memories that slipped so fast.
For they’re all I have left to remember,
on this sad Christmas morning in December.
I’ll think about you and cherish each though;
I’ll think of your smile & the happiness it brought.
And as I listen to the church bells ring,
your voice will echo as the choirs sing.
I can never tell you, my love, how sad it will be
to spend Christmas without you here with me.
I just wish you’d touch my heart in such a way,
that I could live through the pain of Christmas Day.
And, help me to remember that your love
is still sent to me from the Heavens above.
And although you won’t decorate my Christmas tree,
Your spirit will light the lights for me to see.
Oh, I’ll hear your voice in each Christmas song.
I’ll see your face in each child that comes along.
And although my heart will be broken and torn…
I’ll know you’re with Jesus on this Christmas morn.
No, Christmas won’t be the same without your smiling face
but I’ll know you’re in a much better place.
I’ll think of my precious child in everything I do…
Cause, it just won’t be “Christmas Without You!”

My First Christmas in Heaven
by Unknown

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear.
And be glad I’m spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do
For I can’t count the blessing or love he has for each of you
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

Thanks to The Good Funeral Guide for bringing this lovely funeral poem to our attention.

Parta Quies

Good-night; ensured release,
Imperishable peace,
Have these for yours,
While sea abides, and land,
And earth’s foundations stand,
And heaven endures.

When earth’s foundations flee,
Nor sky nor land nor sea
At all is found,
Content you, let them burn:
It is not your concern;
Sleep on, sleep sound

by AE Housman

I love this poem, its beautiful and simple and hard hitting.  I’d like to share it with you so when you have time with your family this weekend you can  remember to slow down and take a little more time… because when we are  so consumed with being busy and stressed out we forget to appreciate the moments that really matter.

Have a lovely weekend everyone  xx

If I Knew / Tomorrow never comes

by Norma Cornett Marek

If I knew it would be the last time
that I’d see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say “I love you,”
instead of assuming you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I’m sure you’ll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say “I love you,”
And certainly there’s another chance
to say our “Anything I can do?”

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I’d like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll surely regret the day,

That you didn’t take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
And you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you’ll always hold them dear

Take time to say “I’m sorry,” “Thank you,”
“Please forgive me,” or “It’s okay.”
And if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll have no regrets about today.

Poems for the Soul is a selection of poems appropriate for funerals and grief. Some are poems that you may have read before  others are personal poems that have been sent to us by clients and friends of Sentiment.

Ruthann Disotell says:

For Ed…

I once was a kid, but I can’t recall when.
I’ve been dodging the years for a while.
And I’ve made lots of friends and I’ve told lots of yarns,
And when lucky, I’ve made someone smile

I married, raised kids and worked hard all my life,
At a job handed down by my dad.
And I tried to do good, to the best I knew how,
And I don’t think I did things half bad.

I learned on the way, that true joy is hard work,
And attaining it’s all up to you.
By canoe on the river, or a cruise at high sea,
You’re in charge of the smile inside you.

Hang out with your family, hop a scooter to town,
Take time to have coffee with friends.
And work if you must, but remember to play,
Because sooner or later it ends.

Let your life be a marker for what you believe.
Treat folks like you want to be treated.
Look them straight in eye, ask a question or two.
When you speak, they will know that you mean it.

And don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself
But keep others’ feelings in mind.
You can state how things are, from your point of view,
And still manage to remain kind.

And when I am gone, I hope you’ll all know,
As cantankerous as I may be,
I was happy to spend, some choice times with you,
As I hope you enjoyed times with me.

-Ruthann Disotell 8-19-08

Poems for the Soul 1

Poems for the Soul 2