I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free,
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone will stay that way,
I found that peace at close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, a laugh a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I, too, will miss.
But not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life has been full, I’ve savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief,
Lift up you hearts and share with me,
God wanted me now,
He set me free. ~Author Unknown
Farewell My Friends by Gitanjali Ghei (1961- 1977)
It was beautiful as long as it lasted, the journey of my life, I have no regrets whatsoever, save the pain I’ll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care, and the heavy with sleep ever moist eyes, the smile in spite of a lump in the throat and the strings pulling at the heart and soul,
The strong arms that held me up when my own strength let me down, each morsel that I was fed with was full of love.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends, friends who stood by me, even when the time raced me by.
Farewell farewell my friends, I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears, for I need them not, all I need is your smile, If you feel sad, do think of me, for that’s what I’ll like, when you live in the hearts of those you love, remember then…… you never die.
To Those I Love And Those Who Love Me
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
Miss Me But Let Me Go
When I come to the end of the road
and the sun has set on me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little–but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me–but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me–but let me go. ~Author Unknown
A Prayer for Difficult Moments
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. (Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, 950).
Prayer for the Deceased Person
Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, You willingly gave Yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life. Listen to our prayers; look with love on Your people who mourn and pray for their dead brother/sister. Lord Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive our brother/sister his/her sins.
By dying You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You; do not let Your brother/sister be parted from You, but by Your glorious power give him/her light, joy, and peace in heaven where You live for ever and ever. Amen.
He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He saw the road was getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered “Peace be thine”. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. God looked around His garden, and found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth, and saw your tired face.
Quotes and Sayings for Support during the Loss of a Loved One
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ~Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:4 RSV)
Remember the man who served his almighty Creator, his country, his community, and most of all, his family. He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction. ~Bessie Anderson Stanley
Be of good cheer about death and know this as a truth – that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. ~Socrates
While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor
Let us all understand that death is not an eraser. It does not remove the deeds or the meanings that existed in anyone’s life. It does not make poor men rich or great men fallible. And when death comes, let us not romanticize its presence nor the person it takes from us. Let us see death for what it really is: a border that we all must cross; a border that, more than any other, defines the lives we are able to lead. Do not mourn for those who cross over. Rather, reflect on the definition they’ve left behind. It is the only truth we are able to know here on earth. When the definition is great, then celebrate it. When it is lacking, then learn from it and improve on it. And use it to make your own definition more truthful and loving and miraculous. ~Russell Andrews
I have died many a death in love, and yet, had I not loved I would never have lived at all. ~David Lasater
I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived. ~Willa Cather
Death is not extinguishing the light. It is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. ~Rabindranath Tagore
Life is eternal and love is immortal; And death is only a horizon, And a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. ~Rossiter W. Raymond
Is death the last sleep? No – it is the last and final awakening. ~Sir Walter Scott
Time goes, death comes. ~Dutch proverb
The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity. ~Seneca
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. ~Indian proverb
They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. ~William Penn
Life is a dream walking, death is going home. ~Chinese proverb