THANKSGIVING PRAYER
I’m thankful this Thanksgiving
That my grief is not so new.
Last year it was so painful
To think of losing you.
Death can’t claim my love for you
Tho we are far apart,
Sweet memories will always be
Engraved upon my heart.
Time can never bring you back.
But it can help me be
Thankful for the years of joy
You brought our family.
To all the parents with grief so new
I share your loss and sorrow.
I pray you find with faith and time
The blessings of each tomorrow.
Charlotte Irick
TCF, Idaho Falls, ID
MEMORIES
There’s a vacant seat by the fire,”
Those words of Dickens say,
In place of the child no longer here
to join the holiday.
So we’ll open our priceless memories,
Like precious gifts to share,
We’ll rejoice in these and friends like you,
Who understand and care.
~ VICKI DOUGLAS-OTTO in memory of Jonathan
LIGHT ONE CANDLE
Light one candle, take my hand.
Move closer to each other,
All who so want to smile again.
In this blessed time of year,
With your sorrow and tears,
Come together to remember and to
light one candle.
The light is for strength to face,
The pain welled up inside.
The light reminds us of shattered
dreams,
Not to be denied.
The light is for courage to beckon,
Others to our side,
For every tear we’ve cried…We light
one candle.
We all know the reason,
That we value so this flame,
To remember every name.
And a promise made that,
In our hearts forever they’ll remain.
Out of love we came to light one candle. JAMES NELSON
For the New Year
Where there is pain,
Let there be softening
Where there is bitterness,
Let there be acceptance
Where there is silence,
Let there be communication
Where there is loneliness,
Let there be friendships
Where there is despair,
Let there be hope.
Ruth Eiseman TCF Louisville, KY
FOR THAT, I AM THANKFUL
It doesn’t seem to get any better…
but it doesn’t get any worse either.
For that, I am thankful.
There are no more pictures to be taken,
but there are memories to be cherished.
For that, I am thankful.
There is a missing chair at the table,
but the circle of family gathers close.
For that, I am thankful.
The turkey is smaller, but there is still stuffing.
For that, I am thankful.
The days are shorter, but the nights are softer.
For that, I am thankful.
The pain is still there, but it lasts only moments.
For that, I am thankful.
The calendar still turns,
The holidays still appear,
And they still cost too much,
But I am still here.
For that, I am thankful.
The room is still empty,
The soul still aches, but the heart remembers.
For that, I am thankful.
The guests still come,
The dishes pile up, but the dishwasher works.
For that, I am thankful.
The name is still missing,
The words still unspoken,
but the silence is shared.
For that, I am thankful.
The snow still falls,
The sled still waits, and the spirit still wants to.
For that, I am thankful.
The stillness remains, but the sadness is smaller.
For that, I am thankful.
The moment is gone, but the love is forever.
For that, I am blessed. For that, I am grateful.
Love was once (and still is) A part of my being.
For that, I am living.
I am LIVING, and for that, I am thankful.
May your holidays be filled
with reasons to be thankful.
Having loved and having been loved is perhaps the most wondrous reason of all.
Thanks for the little while.
DARCIE SIMS
I’m thankful this Thanksgiving
That my grief is not so new.
Last year it was so painful
To think of losing you.
Death can’t claim my love for you
Tho we are far apart,
Sweet memories will always be
Engraved upon my heart.
Time can never bring you back.
But it can help me be
Thankful for the years of joy
You brought our family.
To all the parents with grief so new
I share your loss and sorrow.
I pray you find with faith and time
The blessings of each tomorrow.
Charlotte Irick
TCF, Idaho Falls, ID
MEMORIES
There’s a vacant seat by the fire,”
Those words of Dickens say,
In place of the child no longer here
to join the holiday.
So we’ll open our priceless memories,
Like precious gifts to share,
We’ll rejoice in these and friends like you,
Who understand and care.
~ VICKI DOUGLAS-OTTO in memory of Jonathan
LIGHT ONE CANDLE
Light one candle, take my hand.
Move closer to each other,
All who so want to smile again.
In this blessed time of year,
With your sorrow and tears,
Come together to remember and to
light one candle.
The light is for strength to face,
The pain welled up inside.
The light reminds us of shattered
dreams,
Not to be denied.
The light is for courage to beckon,
Others to our side,
For every tear we’ve cried…We light
one candle.
We all know the reason,
That we value so this flame,
To remember every name.
And a promise made that,
In our hearts forever they’ll remain.
Out of love we came to light one candle. JAMES NELSON
For the New Year
Where there is pain,
Let there be softening
Where there is bitterness,
Let there be acceptance
Where there is silence,
Let there be communication
Where there is loneliness,
Let there be friendships
Where there is despair,
Let there be hope.
Ruth Eiseman TCF Louisville, KY
FOR THAT, I AM THANKFUL
It doesn’t seem to get any better…
but it doesn’t get any worse either.
For that, I am thankful.
There are no more pictures to be taken,
but there are memories to be cherished.
For that, I am thankful.
There is a missing chair at the table,
but the circle of family gathers close.
For that, I am thankful.
The turkey is smaller, but there is still stuffing.
For that, I am thankful.
The days are shorter, but the nights are softer.
For that, I am thankful.
The pain is still there, but it lasts only moments.
For that, I am thankful.
The calendar still turns,
The holidays still appear,
And they still cost too much,
But I am still here.
For that, I am thankful.
The room is still empty,
The soul still aches, but the heart remembers.
For that, I am thankful.
The guests still come,
The dishes pile up, but the dishwasher works.
For that, I am thankful.
The name is still missing,
The words still unspoken,
but the silence is shared.
For that, I am thankful.
The snow still falls,
The sled still waits, and the spirit still wants to.
For that, I am thankful.
The stillness remains, but the sadness is smaller.
For that, I am thankful.
The moment is gone, but the love is forever.
For that, I am blessed. For that, I am grateful.
Love was once (and still is) A part of my being.
For that, I am living.
I am LIVING, and for that, I am thankful.
May your holidays be filled
with reasons to be thankful.
Having loved and having been loved is perhaps the most wondrous reason of all.
Thanks for the little while.
DARCIE SIMS