WE REMEMBER THEM (A Jewish Prayer)

At the rising of the sun and at its going down We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and the chill of winter We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

When I am gone, release me let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that we had so many years
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness

I thank you for the love you have shown
But now it’s time I traveled alone
So grieve a while for me if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
It’s only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart
I won’t be far away.  For life goes on

So if you need me call and I will come
Though you can’t see or touch me I’ll be there
And if you listen with your heart you’ll hear
All of my love around you soft and clear
And then when you must come this way alone
I’ll greet you with a smile and welcome you home ~ (Author unknown)

Well the eighth of November is soon to be upon us again....still missing you dearly.......still wondering why .....

Brother, I am fire
Surging under the ocean floor.
I shall never meet you, brother
Not for years, anyhow;
Maybe thousands of years, brother.
Then I will warm you,
Hold you close, wrap you in circles,
Use you and change you
Maybe thousands of years, brother.

Carl Sandburg

 

                                        The Price Of Love

               Grief never ends,
                But it changes.
               It's a passage,
                Not a place to stay.

               The sense of loss
                 Must give way,
                If we're to value
                  The life that was lived.

                Grief is not a sign of weakness,
                  Nor a lack of faith,
                 It is the price of love.



Always loving you.
       

Angels in the Heavens
Bright stars in the sky
His pain is gone, but the love for
My brother lingers on.

                                              How Long Will The Pain Last?

     How long will the pain last?"
a broken mourner asked me.
  "All the rest of your Life."
 I have to answer truthfully.

We never quite forget. No matter how many days pass, we remember.
 The loss of a loved one is like a major operation. Part of us is removed,
and we have a scar for the rest of our lives.

   As days go by, we manage. There are things to do, people to care for,
 tasks that call for full attention.

 But the pain is still there, not far below the surface. We see a face that
looks familiar, hear a voice that echoes, see a photograph in someone's
album, see a landscape that once we saw together, and it seems as
though a knife were in the wound again. But not so painfully. And mixed
with joy, too. Because remembering a happy time is not all sorrow, it brings
back happiness with it.

      How long will the pain last?
All the rest of your life. But the thing to remember is that not only the pain
will last, but the blessed memories as well.

Tears are proof of life. The more love, the more tears. If this be true, then
how could we ever ask that the pain cease altogether. For then the memory
of love would go with it.

     The pain of grief is the price we pray for love.

Author Unknown
Dad and I love you and miss you so much........

                        A gift for such a little while,
                        Your loss just seems so wrong,
                         You should not have left before us,
                         It's with loved ones you belong......

                          Missing you and always loving you.







 
                   

                                                  In Memory

     One gift above all others
     God gives to us to treasure
     One that knows no time, no place
     And one gold cannot measure.

     The precious, poignant tender gift
      Of Memory.....that will keep
      Our dear ones ever in our hearts
      Although God gives them sleep.

     It brings back long remembered things-
     A song, a word, a smile
     And the world's a better place
      Because, we had him for a while.

Perhaps they are not stars,
   but rather
 openings in heaven
   where the
 love of our lost ones
    pours through
 and shines down
    upon us
 to let us know
   they are
    happy.

-Eskimo legend

Saturday November 8, was a bittersweet day, remembering Dan is, as you all know, a daily process of sadness and longing. So the anniversary of the day he left us I expected to be an even greater pain and working up to that day filled me with foreboding. As Saturday dawned I was amazed to realize it matters not the day he left but that in fact he did. I looked at that day as a release and to attempt to begin forgiveness, to him, for his act, and to let go all the pent up tears and fear, and tell him Good-bye my lost brother, you are forever a part of my soul and you will be forever a part of my thoughts and prayers. Nothing I gaze at as I go on in life will be without your presence. No song I hear will not bring me a glimpse of your face. No happiness I feel will be without regret, and no future pain and heartache will be minus your memory.
I release you my friend, you may fly free, and visit my heart and mind often as I will visit yours. 

Yesterday was full of tears, knowing death has just been here
All was lost but not forgot, the pain controls my every thought
A new day's battle has begun, all was lost and nothing's won
I can't wait to see the day, when the tears all go away ..

uncle danny i miss and love you more than anything and i wish you were here.

The last year has been the longest year of my life, yet it seems impossible that it s been that long! How can it be a year?  I miss you so much, that will never change.  If I could turn back time you would be here.  I will never understand why you didn't reach out to anyone, I wish you would have called me.  Nothing and no one, not even you would have stopped me from getting to you.  I still can't believe you are gone!  I hope you can see how much you are needed here and how much you are sadly missed and loved!  Rest in peace!  I LOVE YOU!!!

You are free.......

                                                    A Year Later

    Am I different now?
     Sometimes it seems that way--
    That I have one identity.
      A mother who has lost a child.
     Do others think of me that way too?
       The pain has seared my very soul
     And left scars on my psyche.
        Do they show?

     Do strangers mark me as one who mourns?
         I do sometimes laugh now.
     But I truly never forget.
         I remember HIS laughter.
     And wish I could hear it once more.
          I feel guilty whenever I forget for even an instant,
      That he is gone and will never come back.
           But my heart goes on beating,
           And my lungs go on breathing,
           And the days go on passing-
          
                 One by one
        I begin to take small pleasures,
            Just baby steps at first--
        Sights or sounds or colors or tastes.
             But soon I am running again.
         And sometimes I even feel joy.
             Then I remember
          What joy He always found in life,
          And then I don't feel guilty any more.
              I can almost see him smile
           As I finally learn this lesson.


Saralyn McAfee Smith
      

It's been 1 year today since I saw you and spoke with you. How I would give anything to have touched you and taken you in my arms and said, "Tell me Dan what's wrong, really tell me and I can help you to see that it all passes, the good and the bad, and it changes, so often, that you must remain and stay.For how can you know what's next?"

If will never regret anything more than this....that you left and I didn't know you were so wounded and tired. That all my adult life I spent trying to ease pain and suffering of strangers, and you my baby brother I overlooked.