I leave you with these final thoughts:
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth

One of the best things we can do in our lives is this: Begin again.
Begin to see yourself as you were
When you were the happiest and strongest.
Begin to remember what worked for you
And what worked against you.
Try to capture the magic again.

The once rising sun sets,
The soft blue sky
Grows black,
Little children are tucked
Away in their sacks,
A mother's soft kiss on the forehead--
She wonders what's in store

If I had known what trouble you were bearing;
What griefs were in the silence of your face;
I would have been more gentle, and more caring,
And tried to give you gladness for a space.
I would have brought more warmth into the place,
If I had known.

When life as opening buds is sweet,
And golden hopes the fancy greet,
And Youth prepares his joys to meet,--
Alas! how hard it is to die!
When just is seized some valued prize,
And duties press, and tender ties

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

When you lose a child, it is alright to . . .

Scream in the shower;
Yell in the car;
Howl at the moon;
Cry anywhere you like;
Misplace your glasses;
Lose the car;

The Mask
I have a face I put in place;
It's what I wear when folks are there.

For those only who want to see
the way they think I ought to be.

I live in times that have no light,
just cloudy darkness, endless night.

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.

When I come round to call. . . .

I'll lend you for a little time
A child of mine, God said,
for you to love the while he lives,
and mourn for when he's dead.

It may be six or seven weeks,
or thirty years, or three

My Son, My Rain

You arrived early and left that way,

But taught me well in your short stay,

Loving your family in an honest way,

Fairness and sharing part of your day,

I’ll never forget the day that God sent you into my life,
The awesome way your smile seemed to make everything all right.

I’ll never forget the love you shared, unselfish and true,
I’ll never forget the special gift God bestowed on me in you.

As you stood before the Father, as your precious time had come,
With open arms he welcomed you, my child He said, "Well Done!"