Funeral Poems and Prayers

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters; He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; For Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anointest 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.

May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Do not stand by 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 sunset on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain.   When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the sweet uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there, I did not die.

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 belonged to him, and the other 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 the most you would leave me.”   The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During those times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

God looked upon His garden and found an empty space; He then looked down upon this earth and saw your tired face. He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best. He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain He knew you might never get well upon this earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb, so He closed your weary eyelids and whispered “Peace be thine”. It broke our hearts to lose you but you never went alone, for part of us went with you The day God called you home.

I’ve finished life’s chores assigned to me, So put me on a boat headed out to sea. Please send along my fishing pole For I’ve been invited to the fishin’ hole.   Where every day is a day to fish, To fill your heart with every wish. Don’t worry, or feel sad for me, I’m fishin’ with the Master of the sea.   We will miss each other for awhile, But you will come and bring your smile. That won’t be long you will see, Till we’re together you and me.   To al of those that think of me, Be happy as I go out to sea. If others wonder why I’m missin’ Just tell ‘em I’ve gone fishin’

Don’t think of her as gone away Her journey’s just begun; Life holds so many facets This earth is only one. Just think of her as resting From the sorrows and the tears In a place of warmth and comfort Where there are no days and years. Think how she must be wishing That we could know today, How nothing but our sadness Can really pass away. And think of her as living In the hearts of those she touched… For nothing loved is ever lost And she was loved so much

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’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.   Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love 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’s 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’d 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

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdome, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is doubt, faith; 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 Assissi

God, Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot change The Courage to change The things I can And the wisdom To know the difference.

You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love 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 her and only that she’s gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she’d want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

When I am gone, release me let me go ….. I have so many things to see and do, You must not tie yourself to me with tears; Be happy 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 travel on alone.   So grieve a while for me, for 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 me or touch me, I’ll be near, And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear, All of my love around you soft and clear.   And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say, “welcome home.”   Author Unknown

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, That Jesus came and called my name, And took me by the hand, And said my place was ready, In heaven far above, And that I’d have to leave behind All those I dearly love. So when tomorrow starts without me, Don’t think we’re far apart, For every time you think of me, I’m right here, in your heart.