Dear Lord, as I stumble through this life,
Help me create more laughter than tears,
Dispense more happiness than despair,
Never let me grow so big that
I fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child
Or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
My work here is to cheer people up,
Make them happy, and make them laugh,
Make them forget, at least for a moment,
All the unpleasant things in their lives.
And in my final moment,
May I hear you whisper:
"When you made my people smile,
You made me smile."
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 chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
If I could grow a tree for you,
I'd water it with tears,
And nurture it with memories
gathered through the years
Grounded in firm values
this tree would find its roots
And from its legacy of love
would grow the sweetest fruits.
Ever branching outward,
its canopy would swell,
A living, loving tribute
to a life lived full and well.
Finally, its leaves would reach
the floor of heaven, and then
I'd climb up on its branches...
just to hold you once again