Calling Out
Where are you, my child?
Are you near to me somehow?
Do you know how much I miss you?
How empty the house is now?
My faith in God assures me that you are in better hands than mine
I must reach for what’s ahead, letting go of what’s behind.
Now, you are strong and mighty
Full of radiant light.
In that place where it’s always day
No need for sleeping or for night.
I am weeping. You are laughing
Running on streets of gold
I am numb. You are fully alive.
I am in despair. You are in perfect peace.
My heart is broken in pieces
My soul is weary and worn.
I wonder how I will survive this grief
Without losing hope or wishing I’d never been born.
I believe you are in Heaven my child
That place you now call “Home.”
I wonder when I will join you
Will it be soon or quite awhile?
I’m determined to hold onto my faith
Believing without a doubt
That one day we will stand together forever
Understanding what suffering and pain was all about.
@ AnG 2002
How Many Tears?
For Erica Leanne Forney
@Shelley Forney, 2014
How many tears will I shed today?
How many will you know about there in Heaven?
Do you know anything of how much I cry for you?
Do you know how often I share my tears with others in your memory?
I cry daily, maybe not outwardly, but my heart cries for you everyday.
I wonder, do the tears I shed matter or make a difference?
Do they stitch up the brokenness I feel inside, since you have been gone?
Do they mend the bleeding heart I have and live with everyday?
Some days, the tears flow like an unstoppable raging river and I think I haven’t any more tears to cry.
But, no matter how much I cry, there are always more tears.
My tears are a connection to the love that I have for you, which is never ending.
For you are my child, and you are a part of me.
I share my tears with others openly without hesitation or apology
I believe my tears honor the life we shared together and they are a sign of my never-ending love for you
And, my tears are evidence of my heart opening to my love and remembrance of you with the world.
I accept my tears as a gift from God
I will always remember you and I accept the tears God has given me as a gift
As I also accept His gift of YOU, my daughter, my "sunshine."
I believe that when we cry, we're letting go of the pain from our heart, soul and bodies. Tears are God’s way for us to release the pain trapped inside. May we appreciate and let our tears flow, as we embrace our sorrow. And, may our tears be a part of God's way to lead us healing and peace. -Shelley Forney, Former Assistant Director of Mothers Like Me Grief Care Ministry
The Cord - Unknown
We are connected my child and I
By an invisible cord, not seen by the eye
It's not like the cord that connected us until birth
This cord can't be seen by anyone on earth
This cord does its work right from the start
It binds us together attached by my heart
I know that it's there, though no one can see
The invisible cord from my child to me
The strength of this cord is hard to describe
It can't be destroyed, it's can't be denied
It's stronger than any cord man can create
It withstands the tests, can hold any weight
Though you are gone, not here with me
The cord is still there, but no one can see
It pulls at my heart, I am bruised, I am sore
But this cord is my lifeline as never before
I am thankful that God connects us this way
A parent and child, death can't take this away!
"You Took My Son Today"
By Tina Cartwright, for her son, Mel
Februrary 25, 2010 - Sorting out the pain and truth with the Lord
You took my son today, Lord, and I know that he's with You.
For I could not live another day, if I doubted this were true.
The pain would be unbearable, the tears would never stop.
Yet, in the midst of all the pain, it's to my knees I drop.
For there is no other answer in this world for me today.
And, no comfort can be found, in the words that others say
The only comfort I find is in the words You say,
And, I heard them very clearly, "He must go and you must stay."
But, Lord, I want to question, are you sure that this must be?
Then I hear Your calming answer, "Yes, I want him back with me,"
So even though I tremble and I may not understand,
I know my son is safe now, for he's holding to Your hand
And, now I pray that others see there is no other way,
For You took away the fear of death, when You gave Your Son that day"
Where are you, my child?
Are you near to me somehow?
Do you know how much I miss you?
How empty the house is now?
My faith in God assures me that you are in better hands than mine
I must reach for what’s ahead, letting go of what’s behind.
Now, you are strong and mighty
Full of radiant light.
In that place where it’s always day
No need for sleeping or for night.
I am weeping. You are laughing
Running on streets of gold
I am numb. You are fully alive.
I am in despair. You are in perfect peace.
My heart is broken in pieces
My soul is weary and worn.
I wonder how I will survive this grief
Without losing hope or wishing I’d never been born.
I believe you are in Heaven my child
That place you now call “Home.”
I wonder when I will join you
Will it be soon or quite awhile?
I’m determined to hold onto my faith
Believing without a doubt
That one day we will stand together forever
Understanding what suffering and pain was all about.
@ AnG 2002
How Many Tears?
For Erica Leanne Forney
@Shelley Forney, 2014
How many tears will I shed today?
How many will you know about there in Heaven?
Do you know anything of how much I cry for you?
Do you know how often I share my tears with others in your memory?
I cry daily, maybe not outwardly, but my heart cries for you everyday.
I wonder, do the tears I shed matter or make a difference?
Do they stitch up the brokenness I feel inside, since you have been gone?
Do they mend the bleeding heart I have and live with everyday?
Some days, the tears flow like an unstoppable raging river and I think I haven’t any more tears to cry.
But, no matter how much I cry, there are always more tears.
My tears are a connection to the love that I have for you, which is never ending.
For you are my child, and you are a part of me.
I share my tears with others openly without hesitation or apology
I believe my tears honor the life we shared together and they are a sign of my never-ending love for you
And, my tears are evidence of my heart opening to my love and remembrance of you with the world.
I accept my tears as a gift from God
I will always remember you and I accept the tears God has given me as a gift
As I also accept His gift of YOU, my daughter, my "sunshine."
I believe that when we cry, we're letting go of the pain from our heart, soul and bodies. Tears are God’s way for us to release the pain trapped inside. May we appreciate and let our tears flow, as we embrace our sorrow. And, may our tears be a part of God's way to lead us healing and peace. -Shelley Forney, Former Assistant Director of Mothers Like Me Grief Care Ministry
The Cord - Unknown
We are connected my child and I
By an invisible cord, not seen by the eye
It's not like the cord that connected us until birth
This cord can't be seen by anyone on earth
This cord does its work right from the start
It binds us together attached by my heart
I know that it's there, though no one can see
The invisible cord from my child to me
The strength of this cord is hard to describe
It can't be destroyed, it's can't be denied
It's stronger than any cord man can create
It withstands the tests, can hold any weight
Though you are gone, not here with me
The cord is still there, but no one can see
It pulls at my heart, I am bruised, I am sore
But this cord is my lifeline as never before
I am thankful that God connects us this way
A parent and child, death can't take this away!
"You Took My Son Today"
By Tina Cartwright, for her son, Mel
Februrary 25, 2010 - Sorting out the pain and truth with the Lord
You took my son today, Lord, and I know that he's with You.
For I could not live another day, if I doubted this were true.
The pain would be unbearable, the tears would never stop.
Yet, in the midst of all the pain, it's to my knees I drop.
For there is no other answer in this world for me today.
And, no comfort can be found, in the words that others say
The only comfort I find is in the words You say,
And, I heard them very clearly, "He must go and you must stay."
But, Lord, I want to question, are you sure that this must be?
Then I hear Your calming answer, "Yes, I want him back with me,"
So even though I tremble and I may not understand,
I know my son is safe now, for he's holding to Your hand
And, now I pray that others see there is no other way,
For You took away the fear of death, when You gave Your Son that day"