They Say there is a Reason
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way we feel.
For no-one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No-one knows how many times,
have broken down and cried.
Gone from home that smiling face,
Those cheerful happy ways,
The heart that won so many friends,
In bygone happy days. We want to tell you something,
so there won’t be any doubt,
You’re so wonderful to think of,
so hard to be without.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed 
he was walking along the beach with the 
LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from 
his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of 
footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, 
the Other to the 
When the last scene Of his life flashed before 
him, he looked back at the footprints in the 
sand. He noticed that many times along the 
path of his life there was only one set of 
footprints. He also noticed that it happened at 
the very lowest and saddest times of his life. 
This really bothered him and he questioned 
the LORD about it. "LORI) you said that once 
I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all 
the way. But I have noticed that during the most 
troublesome times in my life, there is only one 
set of footprints. I don't understand why when I 
needed you most you would leave me." 
The LORI) replied, "My precious, precious 
child, I love you and I would newer leave you. 
During your times of trial and suffering, when 
you see only one set of footprints, it was then 
that I carried you."

I’ll lend you for a little while, a child of
mine,” God said, “For you to love her
while she lives, and mourn for when she’s dead.
“It may be six or seven years, or forty-two or
three, but will you, till I call her back,
take care of her for me.
“She’ll bring her charms to gladden you and
should her stay be brief, you’ll always have her
memories as a solace for your grief.
“I cannot promise she will stay since all from
earth return, but there are lessons taught below
I want this child to learn.
“I’ve looked this whole world over in my
search for teachers true, and from rhe folks that
crowd life’s lane I have chosen you.”
“Now will you give her all your love nor think
the labour vain, nor hate me when I come to
take this lent child back again?
“I fancied that I heard her say, dear Lord Thy
will be done, For all the joys Th child will
bring, the risk of grief we’ run.
“We’ll shelter her with tenderness, we’ll love
her while we may, And for the happiness we’ve
known forever grateful stay.
“But should the Angels come for her much
sooner than we’ve planned, We’ll have the
bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.”

They are not gone,
these loved ones whom we mourn.
We must not think of them as far away.
Unto a fuller life they have been born,
Laying aside the vesture of this clay.
Yet near us still, they watch and know,
We are the blind ones who no longer see.
Familiar forms that we so dearly loved,
Waiting reunion in eternity.

I'd like the memory of me 
To be a happy one. 
I'd like to leave 
An after glow of smiles 
When life is done. 
I'd like to leave an echo 
Whispering softly 
Down the ways. 
Of happy times and 
Laughing times and 
Bright and sunny days. 
I'd like the tears of those 
Who grieve, to dry 
Before the sun. 
Of happy memories that I 
Leave when life is done.

Do not stand
at my grave and weep,
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken
in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars
that shine in the night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there:
I did not die.
n.

“All I ask of you is that wherever you may be,
you will remember me at Holy Communion
and at the foot of the Altar.”

– St. Monica.

O Jesus, full of grace and charity,
victim for sinners, so impelled by
love for us that you willed to die on the
cross. I humbly beseech you to glorify in
heaven and on earth the servant of God,
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who generously
participated in your sufferings, who loved
you so much and laboured so faithfully
for the glory of your heavenly Father and
for the good of souls. With confidence
I beseech you to grant me, through his
intercession the grace of
which I ardently desire.
Glory be to the Father …
(Three times).

We hold you close 
within our hearts, 
And there you shall remain, 
To walk with us 
throughout our lives, 
Until we meet again. 
So rest in peace, 
Dear loved one, 
And thanks for all 
you've done. 
We pray that God 
has given you, 
The crown you've 
truly won.

There is no night
without a dawning,
No winter without a spring
And beyond death’s
dark horizon
Our hearts once more
will sing. –
For those who leave us
for a while
have only gone away
Out of a restless
careworn world
into a brighter day.

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 must stay that way; 
I found that peace at the 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. 
Be not burdened with times of sorrow; 
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow, 
My life's been full, I savoured much; 
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. 
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; 
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief, 
Lift up your heart and share with me; 
God wanted me now, He set me free.