Love, Loss and Mourning.

[Pony]

Making an addition to my post above.......Ann, I understand what you mean about greiving the loss of your son without his being dead.......just being gone from your life. As you know, but most here don't, my oldest daughter has turned her back on my mom and I. She won't call or answer my calls to her. She talks to everyone else including her soon to be ex-stepmother (my ex-h, her father's, soon to be new ex-w). But me, the one that raised her and has stood by her even through my divorce from her father and he bailed on her and her sisters. Even through her choices that I didn't agree with, but still supported her.

I know in my head that this is not about me....that it is about her and whatever she is going through, but my heart still feels the lost.....especially now with the lost of my dad. I know that other day when I had a quiet moment I was thinking about both and start to feel that mourning for both losses and realized that it felt like both have died and gone from my life....also my little g-daughter that I haven't seen since Memorial Day.

Well, anyway, thanks for letting my share this. The only difference between the feeling the loss of my dad and my daughter is that there is still a chance that my daughter may come back (if she gets her head out of her ***...you know), but my dad is gone until I see him again on the other side.

{{Ann}}

[deedee]

(((Pony))) So sorry to hear of the loss of your dad ... he sounds like such a warm and gentle man. I'm holding you close in my thoughts and prayers.

(((Wolf))) What a great loss for you and your family those many years ago, yet she and the babe are still loved, still remembered. That doesn't go away ever.

I visit my son's gravesite weekly at least, and find the tears both cleansing and a reflection of my love, of what is in my heart, of the pain that lives there. I also thank God for the 27 years I had him to love.

hugs,

deedee

[In memory of miracle]

((( DeeDee )))
I have no words...just warm hugs and prayers.

[na4today]

((Trish)) I just wanted to say that this was a great idea to start this thread. I know the forum is about grief and loss but sharing it like this just seems to make it "feel better" for a lack of better words.

((Pony)) Sorry about your dad. Mine died on May 22 and I still haven't dealt with it, it's too unreal.

And everyone else that comes to this thread, I'm glad you share your feelings with us. This is a good thing!

Kathy

[In memory of miracle]

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

[Ann]

Say not in grief 'he is no more' but live in thankfulness that 'he was'
Hebrew proverb

May the love, memories and spirit of your departed live in your hearts forever.

Hugs
Ann

[In memory of miracle]

Honoring the Dead



From the dawn of your birth
To the sunset of your death
I honor you.

From the missions you completed
To your duties left undone
I honor you.

From the seasons of your being
Through the cycle of your life
I honor you.

From your time beyond the veil
Lie your entrance back again
May the angels support you
May my healing love reach you
From this moment until the end of time
So Mote It Be.


Silver RavenWolf

[In memory of miracle]

Danny Boy
Irish Song Lyrics


Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

[na4today]

I Am Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I am following the path God laid for me.
I took His had when I heard his 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 the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with time of sorrow,
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full I savored much.
Good friends, good times,
a loved one touched.
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.

[Pony]

That was touching na4today. I'm going to copy that and read it at my father's memorial this Sat. It fits what he would say so perfectly.

Thank you for sharing this.

[In memory of miracle]

Prayer for the Deceased


Go your way to the land of the Ancestors,
where they wait for you with open arms,
there on the edge between this world and the next.
See; there they stand.
Ancestral spirits, welcome this one
to the place where we all must go.


- Ceisiwr Serith

[na4today]

((((Pony)))) I'm glad you liked it!

[deedee]

I found this posted on a survivors board I go to:

Calling All Angels ... beautiful

http://www.andiesisle.com/Calling_All_Angels.html

[In memory of miracle]

I Believe I Can Fly
by R. Kelly
I used to think that I could not go on,
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms.
If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
(Oh) I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes the silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
(Oh) I believe I can fly



Always remember when the silence seems so loud, you are not alone. There is someone thinking of you and praying for you,for strength. ((( Deedee ))) and all the others who grieve today. Bless you all...

[In memory of miracle]

May Love Abound



May the lonely be comforted. May love abound and divisions between us cease to exist. May all beings of the earth feel safe and free of fear. May we each continue on the path towards enlightenment with gladness and diligence

[In memory of miracle]

I Look to Thee in Every Need


I look to Thee in every need, and never look in vain;
I feel Thy strong and tender love, and all is well again.
The thought of Thee is mightier far than sin and pain and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life, disheartened by its load,
Shamed by its failures or its fears, I sink beside the road.
But let me only think of Thee and then new heart springs up in me.

Thy calmness bends serene above, my restlessness to still;
Around me flows Thy quickening life, to nerve my faltering will.
Thy presence fills my solitude, Thy providence turns all to good.

Enfolded deep in Thy dear love, held in Thy law, I stand;
Thy hand in all things I behold, and all things in Thy hand.
Thou leadest me by unsought ways, and turn my mourning into praise.


- Samuel Longfellow

[In memory of miracle]

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. For each scene, he noticed 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 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 of 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 time of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."


Blessed are those who mourn...

[In memory of miracle]

Do Not Lose Heart


Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.


- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

[In memory of miracle]

" No man can be ignorant that he,
must die'
Nor be sure he may not, this very day~ Cicero

[In memory of miracle]

Prayer for Those Who Mourn


Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Christian
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979

[Ann]

This is a beautiful thread, Trisha. The readings are so comforting and it just feels like a place of healing.

Hugs
Ann

[In memory of miracle]

"The great tragedy of life
is not death;
but what dies inside us
while we live"
Norman Cousins

[cwohio]

deedee - that link (http://www.andiesisle.com/Calling_All_Angels.html) is awesome - visited last evening. thanks!

[In memory of miracle]

Love Is Stronger Than Death



Love is stronger than death.
So, I must be content to know that
love is not affected by death-
it doesn’t end, it doesn’t diminish,
it doesn’t change.
Instead, love is immortalized
and eternalized through death.
And the possibility of that love ever
being damaged or broken
is eliminated forever.
I'll put my trust in love.


Mary Hollingsworth | Source: Reprinted with permission of Andrews McMeel Publishing, from "Little Taps on the Shoulder From God" © 2002 Mary Hollingsworth

[In memory of miracle]

Prayer for Bereaved Parents


God, you sacrificed your son so that we and our children would transcend physical death. We know that you grieved when he was crucified and that you grieve over all the atrocities done by men -- especially in your name. You know and understand grief as you know and understand all. You know best how to comfort these parents. Lift their hearts up to you and fill them with your peace. Your understanding is beyond our human comprehension, but give them the knowledge and faith to endure even that which they can't understand. Let them be aware of you always God, and help them to remember that your Love is Life that can never really be taken away.


- Beliefnet member anacleo7