Somewhere upon the breeze tonight,
You will be hearing chimes that fill the air,
Christmas extends its all-enfolding light,
Across the heavens….something we can share.

You will be singing, just the same as I,
These songs all Angels know so well,
And you will see these same stars in your sky,
And wish upon the brightest one that fell.

I shall remember you and trim my tree,
One shining star upon the topmost bough,
I will hang wreaths of faith that all may see –
Tonight I glimpse beyond the here and now.

And all the time that we must be apart,
I keep a candle in my heart.

Adapted from the poem
by Mary E Linton

A Parable of Immortality

I am standing on the shore as a great ship gently glides from the harbor and sails toward the horizon. She is beautiful. Sails billowing; and shining bright as sunlight sparkling on distant waters. She grows smaller and smaller until at last, her white sails shine as ribbons out where the sky and water mingle as one.

And as I watch, a voice behind me says, "Well, she's gone." She's gone. Gone? "No," I tell myself. No, she is not really gone. Not really. She is gone only in the sense that I can no longer see her.

In reality, she is the same as ever; just as beautiful; just as shining. And deep in my heart I know, that on another shore someone is crying out, "Look! Look everyone! Here she comes!"

- Henry Van Dyke

Four Candles for You

by Unknown

The first candle represents our grief.
The pain of losing you is intense.
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.

This second candle represents our courage.
To confront our sorrow,
To comfort each other,
To change our lives.

This third candle we light in your memory.
For the times we laughed,
The times we cried,
The times we were angry with each other,
The silly things you did,
The caring and joy you gave us.
This fourth candle we light for our love.
We light this candle that your light will always shine.

As we enter this holiday season and share this night of remembrance
with our family and friends.
We cherish the special place in our hearts
that will always be reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift
your living brought to each of us.
We love you.
We remember you.

My Grief is Like a River

My grief is like a river--
I have to let it flow,
But I myself determine
Just where the banks will go.
Some days the current takes me
In waves of guilt and pain,
But there are always quiet pools
Where I can rest again.
I crash on rocks of anger--
My faith seems faint indeed,
But there are other swimmers
Who know that what I need
Are loving hands to hold me
When the waters are too swift,
And someone kind to listen
When I just seem to drift.
Grief's river is a process
Of relinquishing the past.
By swimming in Hope's channels
I'll reach the shore at last.

-Author Unknown