Poems of Grief and Healing

This was one of the first poems we found after losing Chuck and it seemed to touch on how the family was feeling at that time - lost and incomplete- and we always will be until we meet again. Recently we lost our Grandfather (PaPa Akins), my Dad's Father, James "Harold" Akins. My Dad read this at his funeral and I would like to dedicate this to Papa Akins as well as Chuck and I'm glad they're not alone. We will love you both forever and we have no doubts that one day our family chain shall be complete again!

“We Little Knew”

We little knew that morning,

God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

You did not go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,

Your love is still our guide.

And though we cannot see you,

You are always by our sides.

Our family chain is broken,

And nothing seems the same.

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.

Author Unknown

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds. The days we do not think of you are very hard to find. Each morning when we wake we know that you are gone. And no one knows the heartache as we try to carry on. Our hearts still ache with sadness, and secret tears still flow. What it meant to lose you no one will ever know. Our thoughts are always with you, your place no one can fill. In life we loved you dearly; in death we love you still. There will always be heartache and often a silent tear, but always, precious memories of the days when you were here. If tears would make a staircase and heartaches make a lane, we'd walk the path to heaven and bring you home again. We hold you close within our hearts; and there you will remain, to walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again.

~~~~Author unknown~~~~

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free.

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 son died."

And God said, "So did mine."

I said, "God, it is such a loss."

And God said, "I saw my son 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 is in the Light."

I said, "God, it hurts."

And God said, "I know."

The Journey

Don't think of them as gone away, their journey has just begun.

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one. Just think of them as resting from the sorrows and the tears, in a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days and years.

Think of how they must be wishing that we could know today how nothing, but our sadness, can really pass away. And think of them as living in the hearts of those they touched for nothing loved is ever lost and they were loved so much.

Author Anonymous

Do Not Weep

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 a diamond glint on the snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awake in the mourning hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starshine at night.

Do not stand by my grave and cry.

I am not there.

I did not die.

Author Unknown

I'm writing this from heaven where I dwell with God above. Where there's no more tears or sadness, there's just eternal love. Please do not be unhappy, just because I'm out of sight. Remember that I'm with you, every morning, noon and night. That day I had to leave you, when my life on earth was through, God picked me up and hugged me and he said "I welcome you. Its good to have you back again. You were missed while you were gone. As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on."

Then God gave me a list of things He wished for me to do. And foremost on that list of mine, is to watch and care for you. And I will be beside you every day and week and year. And when you're sad, I'm standing there to wipe away the fear. And when you lie in bed at night the days' chores put to flight, God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night. When you think of my life on earth, because you're only human, it's bound to bring you tears. But do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain. Remember, there would be no flowers unless there was some rain.

It's always God's philosophy and I'd like it for you too, that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you. If you can help someone who is in sorrow or in pain, then you can say to God at night, My day was not in vain. And now I am content that my life was worthwhile, knowing as I passed along the way, I made someone smile. So if you meet someone who is down and feeling low, just lend a hand to pick him up as on your way you go. When you are walking down the street and you've got me on your mind, I'm walking in your footsteps only a half a step behind. And when you feel that gentle breeze or the wind upon your face, that's me giving you a great big hug or just a soft embrace. And when it's time for you to go from that body to be free, remember you're not going, you're coming here to me. And I will always love you from that land way up above. We'll be in touch again soon. P.S. God sends His love.

The Journey

Should you go first and I remain
to walk the road alone,

I'll live in memories garden dear,
with happy days we've known.

In spring I'll wait for roses red,
when faded, the lilacs blue.

In early fall when brown leaves fall
I'll catch a glimpse of you.

Should you go first and I remain,
for battle to be fought,

each thing you've touched along the way
will be a hallowed spot.

I'll hear your voice, I'll see your smile,
though blindly I may grope,

the memory of your helping hand
will buoy me on with hope.

Should you go first and I remain,
one thing I'll have you do:

Walk slowly down that long, long path,
for soon I'll follow you.

I want to know each step you take,
so I may take the same.

For someday down that lonely road
you'll hear me call your name.

Author Unknown

ONE DAY AT A TIME



ONE DAY at a time,

with its failures and fears,

With its hurts and mistakes,

  with its weakness and tears,

With its portion of pain,

and its burden of care;

One day at a time we must

meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be

patient and strong;

To be calm under trial and

sweet under wrong;

Then its toiling shall pass

and its sorrow shall cease;

It shall darken and die,

and the night shall

bring peace.

One day at a time -

but the day is so long,

And the heart is not brave,

and the soul is not strong,

O Thou merciful Christ,

be Thou near all the way;

Give courage and patience

and strength for the day.



Swift cometh His answer,

so clear and so sweet;

"Yea, I will be with thee;

thy troubles to meet;

I will not forget thee,

nor fail thee, nor grieve;

I will not forsake thee;

I never will leave."

Not yesterday’s load we

are called on to bear,

Nor the morrow’s uncertain

and shadowy care;

Why should we look forward

or back with dismay?

Our needs, as our mercies,

are but for the day.

One day at a time,

and the day is His day;

He hath numbered its hours,

though they haste or delay.

His grace is sufficient,

we walk not alone;

As the day, so the strength

that He giveth His own.

AS YOUR DAYS, SO SHALL YOUR STRENGTH BE.

By Annie Johnson Flint