Saturday, July 15, 2006

If tomorrow starts without me ...

the poem i've posted is really as corny as summer in Kansas ... yet when a friend sent it to me last week, it was the instrument used to start the healing tears flowing ... and when i read it to leo, it did the same for him ... i wasn't going to share it ... but, it's usually the simple things in life that speak volumes ... remember to hug those you love this weekend ... that way, if tomorrow starts without them - you won't have any regrets ...



If 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 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 didn'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 that 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 some 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 life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
and since each day is the same way,
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 .

-Anon

15 comments:

Oscar R. Warren said...

Saija... Sweetie and I think of things like this a lot lately and it is something that hurts just thinking. Love your previous post on Billy Graham's book. He is a good man.

Maggie Ann said...

That poem is so precious....heaven in graduation like never known on earth. How good of God to remind us in so many ways.

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

Yes, this is one of my favorite poems. I wish that I had remembered to send it to you. I am so glad that someone did though. Just remember each day will get better. I know it is hard. You have a lot of friends too. That is always the best!!!

Unknown said...

I don't think it's corny. I think it's beautiful

Anonymous said...

I think it is very beautiful and thanks for sharing it...not corny at all! Blessings on you during this time of grief...working through it takes time and we all have to go through the various stages of it to be whole...take your time and let GOD hold you every time needed! Blessings..and prayers for you both!!

Michael said...

Hope you are doing well.
Always in my thoughts and prayers.

Take Care
Michael

Saija said...

osray ... everytime i lose someone, i reflect on my own immortality ... and i agree with you re billy graham - he sure has been a wonderful witness of a life surrendered to God! blessings!

maggie ann ... graduation to heaven will indeed be a joy! (hugs)

sandy ... i had never read this poem before ... and this friend just happened to send it to a bunch of us ... timely, i'd say ...

mrsd ... *smile* ... well i'm glad i posted it then - i just thought that everyone else was more sophisticated than me!

elizabeth ... time really does help, doesn't it ... the funeral is now past, so we are thinking ahead - while continuing to pray for lucille's husband and children ...


michael ... doing better today, thank you for asking ... i know it helps us that we live so far away, she wasn't a part of our everyday life - though we did e-mail 3-4 times a week ... - hope your weekend is restful ...

Mindy said...

That poem is so precious! Just what you needed to hear at the time...God always shows up right on time.....

Terry said...

Dear Saija..When Warren Parker of the "Parker Trio" died so tragically this year, I felt so bad for his wife Shannon. My good friends Wess and Susan Adams really encouraged me when they wrote my blog and told me that you haven't lost something when you KNOW where it is. If anything should happen to you or your husband Saija, we would KNOW where you are but we don't want to see that day, I will tell you!! Besides maybe none of us will have to die. The Lord's coming is so soon, we might not even HAVE to face death!!

I wanted to write to you so bad last night but I don't have your email. Could you write to me. My email is shirkie@iaw.com
You have such an understanding heart!! Love Terry

C. H. Green said...

We just lost my grandmother July 1, and someone sent this poem to my Aunt. She read it to the family as we gathered together to remember Granny. I know she is where she wanted to be. And I know that someday I'll see her again. This is a comforting poem. I wish I knew who wrote it.

Saija said...

mindy ... "God always shows up on time" ... i like that ... :o) ... thank you ...

terry ... i e-mailed you ... and thank you for the encouragement ... we all deal with these final earthly farewells differently, don't we? blessings on your Sunday ...

c.h. ... Anon seems to be the most popular of poets, doesn't he/she? i guess eternity will give these unknown folks their due and applause ... blessings!

Catherine said...

That's a beautiful poem, Saija! Thanks for sharing it. I thought of you and Leo yesterday as I recalled one of the songs that was played at my brother's funeral -- "With Hope" by Steven Curtis Chapman:

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...


We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again


And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
There's a place where we'll see your face again


We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again


We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

Saija said...

catherine ... i love that ... thank you! and that word HOPE is so powerful it carries the human heart through many trials, doesn't it! thank you for sharing that ... (hugs)

susie ... :o) ... hi ... hope all is well in susie-Q land ...

Jammie J. said...

I'm glad you were able to cry.

Mmmm, okay, this was really funny to me:

"as corny as summer in Kansas"

Teeheehee

Saija said...

jeanette ... :o)... it was meant to be, just 'cause we're sad doesn't mean we can't try to lighten the load, right? (hugs)