Verses

Verse 1

Footprints

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. Each scene, he noticed
had two sets of footprints in the
sand; one belonging to him, and the other
to the Lord. 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 in his life. This really
bothered him and he questioned the Lord
about it.”Lord, 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 Lord replied,
“My precious, precious child,I love you
and I would never leave you. During your
times of trial and suffering when you see
only one set of footprints, it was then that
I carried you.”

Verse 2

God’s Garden

God looked around his garden
and found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
and saw your tired face.
He put His arms around you
and lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain,
He knew that you would never
get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough,
and the hill was 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.

Verse 3

To Those I Love and to 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 in tears, be
happy that we had so many years. I gave
to you my love, you can only guess how
much you gave to me in happiness. I
thank you for the love you each have
shown, but now it’s time I travelled on
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 near; and if you listen
with your heart, you’ll hear all my love
around you soft and clear. And then,
when you must come this way alone, I‘ll
greet you with a smile and a “welcome home.”

Verse 4

May He support us
all the day long
till the shadows lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world
is hushed and the
fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then in his mercy
may he give us a safe
lodging and a holy rest
and peace at the last.
Bl. John Henry Newman

Verse 5

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 (name),
And thanks for all you’ve done.
We pray that God
has given you,
The crown you’ve truly won.

Verse 6

The Greatest Gift of All

God called your name so gently,
That only you could hear,
No one heard the footsteps ,
of the Angels drawing near.
You left us so many memories,
To us you were so dear,
No matter when we needed you
We always found you near.
You gave us all you had to give,
Gifts both big and small,
But most of all you gave us love,
The greatest gift of all.

Verse 7

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me
an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred,
let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning
that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are
born to Eternal Life.
St. Francis of Assisi

Verse 8

His Journey’s Just Begun

Don’t think of him as gone away,
His journey’s just begun,
Life holds so many facets,
This earth is only one.
Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears,
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years.
Think how he must be wishing
that he could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched,
For nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much.

Verse 9

A prayer for those I love

I did not die young
I lived my span of life
Within your body
And within your love.
There are many
Who have lived long lives
And not been loved as me.
If you would honour me,
Then speak my name
And number me among your family.
If you would honour me
Then strive to live in love,
For in that love, I live.
Never ever doubt
That we will meet again.
Until that happy day
I will grow with God
And wait for you.

Verse 10

Parting

I watched you close your eyes,
I listened to every breath.
I held on tightly to your hand,
As you calmly welcomed death.
I tried to wish you back to life,
Afraid to let you go,
I wanted you to breathe again,
Oh how I loved you so!
I didn’t know that I could cry
so many pitiful tears,
Thinking of your smiling face,
I’ve loved throughout the years.
But somewhere in the hurt and pain,
The love of God shines through
And helps me come to realise,
I’ll one day be with you.

Verse 11

Togetherness

Death is nothing at all – I have only slipped
away into the next room. Whatever we
were to each other, that we are still. Call
me by my old familiar name, speak to me
in the easy way which you always used.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little
jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile,
think of me, pray for me. Let my name be
the household word that it always was;
Let it be spoken without effort. Life means
all that it ever meant. It is the same as it
ever was; there is absolutely unbroken
continuity. Why should I be out of your
mind because I am out of sight ? I am but
waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere
very near just round the corner. All
is well. Nothing is past; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was
before – only better, infinitely happier and
for ever we will all be one together with Christ.

Verse 12

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 must
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. Be not burdened
with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine
of tomorrow. My life’s been full,
I’ve 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 hearts and share with me.
God wanted me now.
He set me free.

Verse 13

When I Leave

I am about to leave; my last breath does not say
“goodbye” for my love for you is truly timeless.
I leave myself not to the undertaker and the
grave, but to your memory with love. I leave
my thoughts, my laughter, my dreams to you
whom I have treasured. I give you what no thief
can steal, the memories of our times together,
the tender, love-filled moments of successes
we have shared, the hard times that brought
us closer together and the roads we walked
side by side. I also leave you a solemn promise
that after I am home in the bosom of God, I
will still be present in the communion of Saints,
whenever and wherever you are in need, call
me; I will come to you, with my arms full of wisdom
and light to open up your blocked paths,
to untangle your knots and to be your avenue
to God. And all I take with me as I leave is your
love and the millions of memories of all that
we have shared. So fear not nor grieve at my
departure, you whom I have loved so much,
for my roots and yours are forever intertwined.

Verse 14

A Prayer

Your life was one
of kindly deeds,
A helping hand for
others’ needs,
Sincere and true in
heart and mind,
Beautiful memories
left behind.
Just a prayer from
the family who loved you.
Just a memory
fond and true.
In our hearts you
will live forever.
because we thought
the world of you.

Verse 15

Perhaps

Perhaps, if we could see
The splendour of the land
To which our loved ones are
called from you and me
We’d understand.
Perhaps, if we could hear
The welcome they receive
From old familiar voices
all so dear
We would not grieve.
Perhaps, if we could know
The reason why they went
We’d smile – and wipe away
the tears that flow,
We’d wait content.

Verse 16

Do not weep

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 glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep,
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die!

Verse 17

In My Place

When I reach the end of the road,
oh my beloved,
Close, close your eyes
on my faults.
When my two tired eyes
are shut,
Open yours to the beauty
around you.
When my hands are crossed
together in death,
Stretch your living hands
out to others.
When my voice and my song
are broken, oh my loved ones,
Keep alive the words
of love and hope
and sing them in my place.

Verse 18

The Rose

A rose once grew where all could see,
Sheltered beside a garden wall.
And, as the days passed swiftly by,
It spread its branches, straight and tall…
One day, a beam of light shone through,
A crevice that had opened wide~
The rose bent gently toward its warmth,
Then passed beyond to the other side…
Now, you who deeply feel its loss,
Be comforted ~the rose blooms there~
Its beauty even greater now,
Nurtured by God’s own loving care.

Verse 19

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,
Blessed are the gentle;
they shall inherit the earth,
Blessed are those who mourn;
they shall be comforted,
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for justice;
they shall have their fill,
Blessed are the merciful;
they shall obtain mercy,
Blessed are the pure in heart;
they shall see God,
Blessed are the peacemakers;
they shall be called children of God
Blessed are those who suffer
persecution for justice sake;
theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:3-11

Verse 20

Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow
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.

Verse 21

Although the Curtain Falls

There comes a time for all of us
When we must say goodbye,
But faith and hope
and love and trust
Can never, never die.
Although the curtain falls at last
Is that a cause to grieve?
The future’s fairer than the past
If only we believe.
Trust in God’s eternal care –
So when the Master calls
Let’s say that life is still more fair
Although the curtain falls.