In Loving Memory

Hope Abigail May 31st, 1995-July 26th, 1999

Jesus said "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Call From Heaven

Mommy, Daddy, please don't be sad,
I miss you so much too.
It's beautiful here,
but I worry a lot about you.
I sleep with angels watching me...
there is only love up here.
I am never lonely or afraid
because God is so very near.
I walk with Jesus every day,
He is very kind and loving.
Don't worry Mom, He holds my hand
when we cross a golden street.
I never cry or hurt myself.
I see Great Grandma every day.
I play and laugh and sing a lot
and I hear you when you pray.
Please Mommy, don't be mad at God,
you see He loves me too.
And even though you are not with me,
I am really still with you.
Author Unknown

With Hope
This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope
By Steven Curtis Chapman

THIS CHILD OF MINE

"I'll lend you for a little time, a child of mine. He said, For you to love while she lives, and mourn for when she's dead. It may be six or seven years, or twenty-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 shall her stay be brief, You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief."

"I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return, But there are lessons taught down there, I want this child to learn I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true, And from the throngs that crowd life's lane, I have selected you. Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain, Nor hate Me when I come to call her back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say: "Dear Lord, thy will be done." For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may, And for all the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay; But shall the angels call for her much sooner than we've planned; We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try and understand.

by Edgar A Guest

You never said I'm leaving
You never said good-bye
You were gone before we knew it,
And only God knows why
A million times we needed you,
A million times we cried
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still
In our hearts you hold a place,
That none could ever fill
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone
For part of us went with you,
The day God took you home.
A part of our hearts
have gone with you,
That can never be replaced
A look, a sign, a laugh
I need
Or just to touch your face
They say that time heals
all pain and sorrow,
And helps us to forget
But time so far has only proved
How much we miss you yet.

author unknown

AND GOD SAID

I said, "God, I hurt."
And God said, "I know."

I said, "God, I cry a lot."
And God said, "That is why I gave you tears."

I said "God, I am so depressed."
And God said, "That is why I gave you Sunshine."

I said, "God, life is so hard."
And God said, "That is why I gave you loved ones."

I said, "God, my loved one died."
And God said, "So did mine."

I said, "God, it is such a loss."
And God said, "I saw mine nailed to a cross."

I said, "God, but your loved one lives."
And God said, "So does yours."

I said, "God, where are they now?"
And God said, "Mine is on My right and yours will be in the Light."

I said, "God, it hurts."
And God said, "I know."

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