Giving ourselves permission to be with sadness actually creates space for us to begin the healing process.

Change is something that happens each and every moment in our lives. Since nothing is constant, it may sometimes seem as if we are losing something whenever things do change. Understanding that this is part of our daily existence and that there will not only be gains but also losses in our lives can help us more readily accept and deal with whatever happens.

Whenever we lose something or somebody we love, it is important for us to take time out for ourselves and truly feel the weight of what we are experiencing. Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of t! he moment. In so doing, we become more open to our natural ability to heal ourselves.

Grieving doesn’t have to be a process that keeps us rooted in our thoughts of fear and sadness. For the moment we might feel despondent, but by expressing and coping with our true feelings, we face the sadness head-on. When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass.

When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say.

I know how much you loved me
As much as I loved you,
And each time that you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready
In heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life I’d always thought
I wouldn’t want to die.

I had so much to live for
So much left — yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday
Just even for a while,
I’d say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But then I walked through heaven’s gates!
I felt so much at home,
When God looked down and smiled at me
From his great golden throne.

He said, “This is eternity
And all I’ve promised you,
Today your life on earth is past
But here life starts anew.”

“I promise no tomorrow
But today will always last,
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past.”

“You have been so faithful
So trusting and so true,
Though there were times you did some things
You knew you shouldn’t do.”

“But you have been forgiven
And now at last you’re free,
So won’t you come and take my hand
And share my life with me.”

So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right there in your heart.

Author Unknown

When tomorrow starts without me and I am not there to see,
if the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me,
I wish so much you would not cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many thinks we did not get to say.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
and each time you think of me I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
that an Angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready, in Heaven far above,
and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye
for all life I’d always thought I did not want to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be
for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things that I’d miss come tomorrow
I thought of you and when I did my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven’s gates I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me from His great, golden throne.

He said “This is eternity, and all love promised you,
Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last
and since each day’s the same day, there’s no longing for the past”.

So when tomorrow starts without me,
don’t think we’re far apart
for every time you think of me,
I’m right here in your heart.
Author unknown

A bud, the gardener gave me
A fair and lovely child
He gave it to my keeping
To cherish undefiled.

It lay upon my breast
It was my hope and pride
Perhaps it was an idol
Which I must be denied.

For just as it was opening
To the glory of the day
Came down the heavenly gardener
And took my bud away.

Yet not in wrath He took her
A smile was on her face
As tenderly and kindly
He took her from her place.

“Fear not”, I thought he whispered
“Thy bud shall be restored
I take it but to plant it
In the garden of the Lord”.

He bade me not to sorrow
As those who helpless weep
For He who gave, has taken
And He who took, can keep.

So night and morn together
By the open gate of prayer
I go unto my darling
And sit beside her there.
Author unknown

Though He sends us pain or depths of sorrow,
And there seems but darkness for the morrow,
God is Love

When the tempter goads with fear and terror,
full with horror,
God is Love

When His Word and promises seem veiled,
And our faith, our deeds and love have failed,
God is Love

When we sin and grieve His loving heart,
But repent, He will not from us part;
God is Love

When He sends us tragedy and death,
And we struggle with our final breath,
God is Love

When we stand before Him, saved by grace,
We shall sing in Heaven through endless days:
Face – To – Face
God is Love

Just for this morning, I am going to

smile when I see your face and laugh

when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you

choose what you want to wear,

and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step

over the laundry and pick you up and take you to

the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the

dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put

that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug

the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with

you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell

once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and

whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one

if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry

about what you are going to be when you grow up, or

second guess every decision I have made where you are

concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you

help me bake cookies, and I won’t stand over you

trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us

to McDonald’s and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can

have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in

my arms and tell you a story about how you were

born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you

splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you

stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle

beside you for hours, and miss my favourite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my

finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be

grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and

fathers who are searching for their missing children, the

mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s

graves instead of their bedrooms. The mothers

and fathers who are in hospital rooms

watching their children suffer senselessly and screaming

inside that little body

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold

you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then,

that I will thank God for you, and ask him for

nothing, except one more day…………

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose
husband unexpectedly and suddenly died of a heart attack.

About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a
classroom of students.

As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom
windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on
the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of
reflection on her face, she paused and said, “Before class is over, I
would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to
class, but which I feel is very important.”

“Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and
give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience
will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a way of
telling us that we must make the most out of every single day.”……

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “So I would like you all to
make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way
home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn’t have to be
something you see, it could be a scent — perhaps of freshly baked
bread wafting out of someone’s house, or it could be the sound of the
breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the
morning light catches the autumn leaf as it falls gently to the
ground.

Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may
sound trite to some, these things are the “stuff” of life. The little
things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for
granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any
time…it can all be taken
away.” The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and
filed out of the room silently.

That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than
had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that
teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I
try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today.
When you go home, Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop
off on the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone.

“For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often
regret, but the things we didn’t do.”

“Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away.”

I looked towards the clouds today

and for a moment saw your face

And wondered just were you have gone

with a hope it’s a better place

Did you show yourself to me today

to tell me you’re alright?

Or was it just a daydream

playing tricks upon my sight

Then I thought of when you left

you did not say a word

No hugs and kisses..

no good-bye was heard

You have changed our lives forever

Your time here not in vain

and hope you know we always tried

to keep you safe from pain

We will always feel the void inside

because you are not here

But each new thought you send our way

let’s us know you’re always near

So until our journey nears it’s end

And we hear the angels sing

We’ll face each new day as it comes

and live off the love you bring

~ Author Unknown

“I’ll lend you for a little time
A child of mine,” He said,
“For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he is dead.

“It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two or three;
But will you, ’til I call him back
Take care of him for me?

“He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
And shall his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief.

“I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.

“I’ve looked the wide world over
In search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes
I have selected you.

“Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labor vain;
Nor hate Me when I come to call
And take him back again?”

I fancied that I heard them say,
“Dear Lord, Thy Will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we’ll run.

“We’ll shelter him with tenderness,
We’ll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known
Forever grateful stay.

“But shall the Angels call for him
Much sooner then we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.”

~ Edgar A. Guest