Thankful Thursday ~ For Memories Of Loved Ones Gone

For my Thankful Thursdays post I wanted to honor all those loved ones that have so deeply contributed to WHO I am, BUT have died and moved on, some older than me, parents, some much younger than me, brother in law, and all sorts of friends along the way. My brother in law Bill commented before he died in 2009 how "well grounded" I was in talking about ANYTHING in life, even sadness and handling it with perspective and it was part of life.

It was a high compliment and he had courage battling his ALS. I do love to share things I find and try to communicate as best I can, and watching others on death's doorstep recently I thought POETRY and SONG are good measures of comfort for us all when these things happen, along with the hugs and love of those close to us. SO, a poem and a song. The poem was by David M. Romano in 1993.

"When Tomorrow Starts Without Me"

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 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 my life, I'd always thought,

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much left to do,

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,

The good ones and the bad,

The 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 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 I've 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 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 know 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 here, in your heart.

Song