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.

God looked around his garden
And found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,
He knew that you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on 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 did not go alone…
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

Don’t remember me with sadness,
Don’t remember me with tears,
Remember all the laughter,
We’ve shared throughout the years.

Now I am contented
That my life it was worthwhile,
Knowing as I passed along the way
I made somebody smile.

When you are walking down the street
And you’ve got me on your mind,
I’m walking in your footsteps
Only half a step behind.

So please don’t be unhappy
Just because I’m out of sight.
Remember that I’m with you
Every morning, noon and night.

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 sun 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.

We little knew that morning that
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 peaceful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room.
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each
other that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the easy way
Which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes 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 effect,
Without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that is ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was,
There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

Don’t cry for me now I have died,
For I’m still here I’m by your side,
My body’s gone but my soul is here,
Please don’t shed another tear,
I am still here I’m all around
Only my body lies in the ground.

I am the snowflake that kisses your nose,
I am the frost that nips your toes,
I am the sun, bringing you light,
I am the star, shining so bright.
I am the rain, refreshing the earth,
I am the laughter, I am the mirth.

I am the bird, up in the sky,
I am the cloud, that’s drifting by.
I am the thoughts, inside your head,
While I’m still there, I can’t be dead.

Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness we recall
You had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.

The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true.
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you.

You are not a forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee.

We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by we miss you more,
Your loving smile, your gentle face
No one can fill your vacant place.

To my dearest friends and family,
Some things I’d like to say,
But first of all to let you know
That I’ve arrived okay.

I’m writing this from heaven,
Where I dwell with God above,
Where there’s no more
Tears and sadness,
There’s just eternal love.

The day I had to leave you,
When my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me,
And said “I welcome you”.

It’s good to have you back again,
You were sadly missed
while you were gone.
I need you here so badly
as part of my big plan.

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.

Never forget I’ll be beside you
every day and week and year,
and when your sad,
I’m standing there
to wipe away the tears.

Right now I’m in a different place
And thought we seem apart
I’m closer that I ever was,
I’m there inside your heart.

I’m with you when you greet each day
And while the sun shines bright.
I’m there to share the sunsets, too
I’m with you every night.

I’m with you when the times are good
To share a laugh or two,
And if a tear should start to fall
I’ll still be there for you.

And when that day arrives
That we no longer are apart,
I’ll smile and hold you close to me
Forever in my heart.

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.

When you are walking down the street
And you’ve got me on your mind
I’m walking in your footsteps
Only 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 are coming here to me.

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.

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.

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
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 her and only that she is 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 would want
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he 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.

We lost a mother with a heart of gold,
How much we miss her can never be told,
She shared our troubles and helped us along,
If we follow in her footsteps
We will never go wrong.

We miss you from your fireside chair,
Your loving smile and gentle air,
Your vacant place no one can fill,
We miss you mother and always will.

She was a mother so very rare,
Content in her home and always there,
On earth she toiled, in heaven she rests,
God bless you mother,
You were the best.

Each time we look at your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t be sad but courage take,
And love each other for my own sake.

We lost a father with a heart of gold,
How much we miss him can never be told,
He shared our troubles and helped us along,
If we follow in his footsteps
We will never go wrong.

We miss you from your fireside chair,
Your loving smile and gentle air,
Your vacant place no one can fill,
We miss you father and always will.

He was a father so very rare,
Content in his home and always there,
On earth he toiled, in heaven he rests,
God bless you father,
You were the best.

Each time we look at your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t be sad but courage take,
And love each other for my own sake.

You can only have one mother,
Patient, kind and true.
No other friend in all the world
Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,
To mother you will return.
For all her loving kindness
She asks nothing in return.

As we look upon her picture
Sweet memories we recall
Of a face so full of sunshine
And a smile for one and all.

Sweet Jesus take this message
To our dear mother up above,
Tell her how we miss her
And give her all our love.

You can only have one father,
Patient, kind and true.
No other friend in all the world
Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,
To father you will return.
For all his loving kindness
He asks nothing in return.

As we look upon his picture
Sweet memories we recall
Of a face so full of sunshine
And a smile for one and all.

Sweet Jesus take this message
To our dear father up above,
Tell him how we miss him
And give him all our love.