Words of Comfort and Celebration

 

A monument is historical marker. In designing a memorial the person’s name and dates are prominent. Epitaphs add words of comfort and celebration of life of the person who has died. These inscriptions can come from poems, scripture, or the persons own words. Most epitaphs are serious and timeless but some choose a more humorous approach to remember and celebrate life. Remember, in choosing the right epitaph short and concise is the best.

List of epitaphs

Loving memories last forever

In loving memory

Forever in our hearts

Rest in peace

Dearly loved (mother, father, sister, brother…)

Those we love don’t go away, they walk besides us every day

Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts

Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning how to dance in the rain

Where ever she goes there is laughter

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal

To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die

Always in our hearts

Too well loved to ever be forgotten

Remembered with love

His absence is a silent grief, his life a beautiful memory

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path

 

Scripture

Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 23^rd Psalm

 

Fear not, for I am with You. Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will sustain you through My power. Isaiah 41:10

 

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,  and receive you unto myself; That where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth As it is in Heaven. Give us this day Our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, And the power and the glory, 
Forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

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Poems/Prayers

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi – Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Serenity Prayer – God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Footprints poem – One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. ”LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.” The LORD replied, ”My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Hail Mary Prayer – Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Lord, when my soul takes flight, may it rise swiftly to live forever in your love and care

Irish blessing – May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields and,  until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

The Broken Chain– We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name…

Going Home – Go rest now precious one, your life in eternity has just begun.

Fisherman’s Prayer –  God grant that I may Live to fish for another Shining day, But when my final cast Is made I then most Humbly pray, When nestled in your  Landing net as I lay Peacefully asleep, You’ll smile at me And judge that I am Good enough to keep.

 

Safely Home I am in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, safely home in heaven at last. Did you wonder why I so calmly trod the valley of the shade? Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined every dark and fearful glade. And He came himself to meet me in that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus’ arm to lean on, could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth’s shadows, pray to trust our father’s will. There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth you shall rest in Jesus’ land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

A Mother’s Love – A mother’s love is something that no one can explain. It is made of deep devotion and sacrifice and pain. It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may; For nothing can destroy it or take that love away. It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, And it never fails or falters although the heart is breaking. It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems. It is far beyond defining, It defies all explanation; And it still remains a secret Like the mysteries of creation. A many splendored miracle Man cannot understand;  And another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand.

 

 

Child

In God’s Care

Budded on earth to bloom in heaven

You didn’t have time to make fingerprints on the wall, instead you made fingerprints on our hearts

Safe in His arms, forever in our hearts

Good night sweet prince: and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest

Your wings were ready but my heart was not

Sweat little flower of heavenly birth you were too fair to bloom on earth

Held for a moment, loved for a lifetime

Sweet Prince (Princess)

A little soul takes wings

There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world

Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)

 

My Angel

Too my dear angel in heaven

I just want you to know

That you are always in my thoughts

And how much I love you so.

I know you are in Gods care

That is how it should be

But when I get to heaven

He will give you back to me. By John F Conner

 

Little Angels :

When God calls little children to dwell with Him above, We mortals sometime question the wisdom of His love. For no heartache compares with the death of one small child Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild. Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold, So He picks a rosebud before it can grow old. God knows how much we need them, and so He takes but few, To make the land of heaven more beautiful to view. Believing this is difficult still somehow we must try The saddest word mankind knows will always be “Goodbye”. So when a little child departs, we who are left behind, Must realize God loves children, Angels are hard to find.

 

Humorous

Damn it’s dark down here

I was hoping for a pyramid

I told you I was sick

Died from not forwarding that text message to 10 people

I’m just resting my eyes

Please deactivate my facebook

Please do not wake the dead

What if the hokey pokey is really what it’s all about?

Exercise? I thought you said “extra fries.”