The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. 

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; 

Where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 

When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; 

Courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; 

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; 

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

The LORD bless you and keep you;  

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The LORD lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.

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 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 son, my 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."

When you remember me, please do not weep.

My body may not be there, it has chosen to sleep.

I'm not that far away.

My soul lives on, looking down, watching over you and everyone.

And when you feel sad and life seems so blue,

Just remember that my spirit has its arms around you.

And on those special days, times that you wish I could see,

That cool breeze flowing past you... well, that will be me.

So don't be sad. Have no fear.

God has taken me under his wing but I'll always be near.

I still watch you every minute, every day.

My love and soul are with you, and that's where they will stay.

If you fear me, it is because you do not understand me. For if you understood me, you would know that I am merely a doorway through which you must pass on your journey home.

If you suffer pain or trauma while I am drawing near, it is not of my doing. I would never harm you. That is not my function. God has entrusted me with the task of seeing safely from this life, and into the next. And that is my only function.

When I come, it is often as a friend intent on bringing you blessed relief as I see you safely through the veil. But always gentle, and never before the time God has allotted for you.

If I separate you from your loved ones, it is only to reunite you with others in the Hereafter. It is not my intention to keep you apart, and I will eventually bring you all together again in the love and light of Eternal life.

So if you cannot look upon me kindly, please do not fear me. Just see me as a necessary, but harmless way home to where an idyllic life, and all those who went before, are waiting to welcome you.

I thank thee God, that I have lived in this great world and known its many joys:

The songs of birds, the strongest sweet scent of hay,

And cooling breezes in the secret dusk;

The flaming sunsets at the close of day,

Hills and the lovely, heather-covered moors;

Music at night, and the moonlight on the sea,

The beat of waves upon the rocky shore

And wild white spray, flung high in ecstasy;

The faithful eyes of dogs, and treasured books,

The love of Kin and fellowship of friends

And all that makes life dear and beautiful. 

I thank Thee too, that there has come to me a little sorrow and sometimes defeat,

A little heartache and the loneliness that comes with parting and the words ‘Good-bye’;

Dawn breaking after weary hours of pain,

When I discovered that night’s gloom must yield and morning light break through to me again.

Because of these and other blessings poured unasked upon my wondering head,

Because I know that there is yet to come an even richer and more glorious life,

And most of all, because Thine only Son once sacrificed life’s loveliness for me,

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived.  

I thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.

All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

You memory is my keepsake with which I'll never part

God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.

Into the darkness and warmth of the earth - We lay you down

Into the sadness and smiles of our memories - We lay you down

Into the cycle of living and dying and rising again - We lay you down

May you rest in peace, in fulfilment, in loving.

May you run straight home in God’s embrace.

When God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, He put his arms around you and whispered “Come to me”.

He didn’t like what you went through and he gave you rest

His garden must be beautiful. He only takes the best

And when we saw you sleeping so peaceful and free from pain, we wouldn’t wish you back to suffer that again.

Today we say goodbye and as you take your final rest, that garden must be beautiful because you are one of the best.

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.

Though you may miss me when I have gone away, 

Remember that death is as much a beginning as it is an end.

Though I am out of sight for a while, I leave so much behind to remind you of me:

The soft star-shine in the dark velvet night-sky; 

The sound of the breeze rustling the leaves in the trees;  

The soft calling of a dove; 

Moonlight gleaming silver on calm water;

The soft tread of my love in your heart.

All of these things will speak of my love for you, telling you that I’m waiting for the time when we are

together once more, 

And until that time comes, live and enjoy every moment of each new day.

Hide the pain of our parting in your heart.

Let a smile play upon your lips and laugh often at the funny moments that we enjoyed together.

We shared our lives and our love together, and now you have the blessing of those shared memories

to sustain you until we meet once more.

Always remember that my love for you is eternal, and that though we are parted for a while,

I am waiting to greet you in the life that lies beyond death’s door.

If I should die before the rest of you, 

Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone.

Nor, when I’m gone, speak in a Sunday voice, 

But be the usual selves that I have known.

Weep if you must. 

Parting is hell but life goes on, so…….. sing as well.

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 at night. 

Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there........ I did not die. 

Death is nothing at all. 

It does not count. 

I have only slipped away into the next room. 

Nothing has happened. 

Everything remains exactly as it was. 

I am I, and you are you, 

and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. 

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 

Call me by the old familiar name. 

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 

Put no difference into your tone. 

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 

Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. 

Life means all that it ever meant. 

It is the same as it ever was. 

There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 

What is this death but a negligible accident? 

Why should I be out of 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 hurt; nothing is lost. 

One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Farewell to Thee! But not farewell to all my fondest thoughts of Thee;

Within my heart they still shall dwell and they shall cheer and comfort me.

Life seems more sweet that Thou didst live

And men more true Thou wert one;

Nothing is lost that Thou didst give,

Nothing destroyed that Thou hast done

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 heart strings pulling at the heart and soul.

The strong arms that held me up when my own strength let me down.

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, 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.

Feel no guilt in laughter, he’d know how much you care.

Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.

You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.

He’d hope that you could carry on the way you always do.

So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,

The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.

Let memories surround you, a word someone may say

Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day,

That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,

And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.

For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart

And he will live forever locked safely within your heart.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

In our minds we always knew this time would come to pass.

But knowing it, and living it, has come and gone so fast.

Goodbyes are often hard to say, they hurt so very much.

Though you're not gone. 

You still remain, in the minds, hearts, and lives you've touched

Goodbye friends and family - my life is past. 

I loved you all, to the very last. 

Weep not for me, but courage take.

Love each other, for my sake. 

For those you love don’t go away, they walk beside you every day

It's never the right time to say goodbye.

I will miss you, Dad, and here is why.

You taught me so much:

To show no fear, to always have fun and face the day with cheer.

You were always so able, so fast and so strong.

In your little girl's eyes you could do no wrong.

You would always listen, and you never pried.

You were the arms around me when I cried.

You never looked for praises, and you were never one to boast.

You were always there for those you loved the most.

You worked so hard and those strong working hands led me through life 

And helped me understand that life can be hard, and tough, and sad,

But through it all - I had my Dad.

And because of you, I understood that life was actually pretty good.

I believe in you and will follow your path,

And when things go wrong, I'll look back and laugh.

I hope you can hear me so I can let you know that you were and will forever be my superhero.

So yes, today I am full of sorrow, but I will smile a little more with each tomorrow.

So please, Dad, go, be at rest ......and know, to me, you were always the best.

You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him

Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember him and only that he is gone

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

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 we 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.

I am not gone - while you cry with me

I am not gone - while you smile with me

I am not gone - while you remember with me

I will come - when you call my name

I will come - when I feel your pain

I will come - on your final day

It could never be that we would never be - we shall always be together, forever

If only we could see the splendour of the land to which our loved ones are called from you and me

We’d understand

If only we could hear the welcome they receive from old familiar voices all so dear

We would not grieve

If only we could know the reason why they went, we’d smile and wipe away the tears that flow

And wait ......content.

When I am dead Cry for me a little

Think of me sometimes .......but not too much. 

Think of me now and again as I was in life.

At some moments it’s pleasant to recall ...... but not for long. 

Leave me in peace and I shall leave you in peace 

And while you live ......let your thoughts be with the living. 

May the roads rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

I wonder if my atheist friend risked a quick prayer, right at the end, 

Just in case he was wrong, after all, about what would happen after his last curtain call;

Finally realizing that I might just be right and that he wasn't alone on his longest night

When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room - Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little, but not for long, and not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that once we shared ..........Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take and each must go alone.

It's all part of the master plan - a step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart, go the friends we know.

Laugh at all the things we used to do................Miss me, but let me go.

Life is but a stopping place, a pause in what's to be a resting place along the road to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys. 

Different paths along the way.

We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay...

Our destination is a place far greater than we know.

For some, the journey's quicker.....For some the journey's slow.

And when the journey finally ends, we'll claim a great reward and find an everlasting peace,

Together with the lord.

Time for me to go now, I won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbows way up in the sky

In the morning sunrise when all the world is new

Just look for me and love me as you know I loved you

Time for me to leave you I won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky

In the evening sunset when all the world is through,

Just look for me and love me and I'll be close to you

It won't be forever. The day will come and then my loving arms will hold you

When we meet again

Time for us to part now, we won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbows shining in the sky.

Every waking moment and all your whole life through

Just look for me and love me as you know I loved you.

Just wish me to be near you, and I'll be there with you.

Not, how did he die, but how did he live?

Not, what did he gain, but what did he give?

These are the units to measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of his birth.

Nor what was his church, nor what was his creed?

But had he befriended those really in need?

Was he ever ready, with words of good cheer, to bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say, but how many were sorry when he passed away?

Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand, nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day you tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me; you understand it will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while and afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.

Remember Me: To the living, I am gone. To the sorrowful, I will never return.

To the angry, I was cheated. But to the happy, I am at peace,

And to the faithful, I have never left. I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

So as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a beautiful sea – remember me.

As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its grand majesty – remember me.

As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity – remember me.

Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories of the times we loved,

the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed.

For if you always think of me, I will never be gone.

Into the freedom of wind and sunshine - We let you go

Into the dance of the stars and the planets - We let you go

Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the star maker - We let you go

We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy

Go safely, go dancing, go running home

Softly the leaves of memory fall, gently I gather and treasure them all.

Unseen, unheard, you are always near, so missed, so loved, so very dear.

Softly the light from the stars above, glinting and twinkling their message of love.

Unseen, unheard, you are always near, so missed, so loved, so very dear.

Softly the sound in heaven above, silent the words to my whispered love;

Unseen, unheard, you are always near,

So missed, so loved, so very dear.

The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.

The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains.....

For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.

The sadness of the present days is locked and set in time, and moving to the future is a slow and painful climb. But all the feelings that are now so vivid and so real can’t hold their fresh intensity as time begins to heal. No wound so deep will ever go entirely away; yet every hurt becomes a little less from day to day.

Nothing else can erase the painful imprints on your mind; but there are softer memories that time will let you find.

Though your heart won’t let the sadness simply slide away, the echoes will diminish even though the memories stay.

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real and always try to understand the way other people feel.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, “There she goes.”

Gone where? Gone from my sight…that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There she goes”, there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

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 too many tears, but be thankful we had so many good years.

I gave you my love, and you can only guess how much you've given me in happiness. 

I thank you for the love that you have shown but now it is time I travelled on alone.

So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted by trust. 

It is only for a while that we must part, so treasure the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away for life goes on and if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near. 

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and a 'Welcome Home'.

If I should die and leave you here a while,

be not like others ......sore .......undone, who keep long vigil by the silent dust.

For my sake turn again to life and smile,

Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than mine.

Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine and I perchance may therein comfort you.

When we are weary and in need of strength, when we are lost and sick at heart - We remember him.

When we have a joy we crave to share, when we have decisions that are difficult to make

When we have achievements that are based on his - We remember him.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring - We remember him.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn - We remember him.

At the rising of the sun and at its setting - We remember him.

As long as we live, he too will live for he is now a part of us - As we remember him.

When I must leave you for a while please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years

But start out bravely with a gallant smile

And for my sake and in my name, live on and do all the things the same.

Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each working hour in useful ways

Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near

And never, never be afraid to die for I am waiting for you in the sky.