IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES

If I knew it would be the last time

that I'd see you fall asleep,

   I would tuck you in more tightly

   and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. 

.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I see you walk out the door,

   I would give you a hug and kiss

   and call you back for one more. 

.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

   I would video tape each action and word,

   so I could play them back day after day. 

.

If I knew it would be the last time,

I could spare an extra minute or two

   to stop and say "I love you,"

   instead of assuming you would know I do. 

.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

   well I'm sure you'll have so many more,

   so I can let just this one slip away. 

.

For surely there's always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

   and we always get a second chance

   to make everything right. 

.

There will always be another day

to say our "I love you's",

   And certainly there's another chance

   to say our "Anything I can do's?" 

.

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

   I'd like to say how much I love you

   and I hope we never forget, 

.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,

young or old alike,

   And today may be the last chance

   you get to hold your loved one tight.. 

.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,

why not do it today?

   For if tomorrow never comes,

   you'll surely regret the day, 

.

That you didn't take that extra time

for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

   and you were too busy to grant someone,

   what turned out to be their one last wish. 

 .

So hold your loved ones close today,

whisper in their ear,

   Tell them how much you love them

   and that you'll always hold them dear, 

.

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me,"

"thank you" or "it's okay".

   And if tomorrow never comes,

   you'll have no regrets about today 

~Anonymous~

MY THOUGHTS TO CAROL

Mothers are God’s special gift to daughters,

 without them we feel something amiss,

They loved us and taught us all through our life,

to be an appropriate “Missy” or “Mrs.”

We love them and expect them, to always be there,

to listen to us ‘bout our “when” and our “where”.

And what we accomplished in life day after day,

that is just done in a mothers’ special way.

They listen, smile, and chatter with joyous laughter,

they are proud to see the good “fruits of their labor”.

They know from what you are built . . . your character,

they have done their job well . . . you now they savor.

Your mother has lived a full-fledged life,

even though she’s felt some unhealthy strife,

However, her attitude was not one of despair,

although her good days of late were probably rare.

She had a lot of courage to continue her ways,

having lost her soul-mate earlier in life,

She had already endured many lonely ways,

the worst being ending of day and alone at twilight.

Sometimes it is a blessing when one is so ill,

to be taken away, no more pain will she feel.

Other times, we feel they’re in an unconscious state,

 but still bonding with us until death does them take.

We know life’s pathway sometimes can be rough,

and this ultimately gives one more strength.

But, sometimes they feel they’ve just had enough,

when their life appears at the brink.

But then we back off and remember God’s love,

we realize so quickly just who’s in charge.

We send our prayers to the one up above,

and our problems then seem no longer so large.

When it comes to the winter of a mother’s life,

and you recall all the good times you’ve shared.

You pray by her bedside with all of your might, that her life,

please Lord, let it be spared.

Life is frail and takes untoward twists,

sometimes it even seems to be “hit and miss”.

But, again, everyone knows at some point in time,

life on this earth is no longer mine.

I know your heart is broken and sad,

at this event that has now taken place,

You’ve cried all the tears you thought you had,       

but you have to remember, she’s finished ‘’the race.”

If she could tell you, your mother would say,

 my dear loving child, I will miss you as well,

But this is His way and this is my day,

we’ll again be together you’ll see . . . time will tell.

Written to Carol on the death of her mother
© Ruth Miller, December 2009

MY FRIEND

I have a friend who was a friend indeed,

He is always there should he you need.

His Christian attitudes are fully displayed,

He is a gentleman, and by God’s hand made.

My friend loves the outdoors, and soaks up the sun,

He loves to fish before day is done.

He works in his yard like a busy bee,

He pretties this up for all to see.

My friend was always studying God’s holy book,

He can quote you scripture without having to look.

He teaches us at an understandable level,

He shows us how to better handle the devil.

My friend was truly all of the above,

And for all of that, we extend him our love.

But right now my friend is so sick in his bed,

His face from his fever is roughishly red.

My friend needs our prayers ever so much,

And that God’s hand will lovingly, his body touch.

We pray this will be just like a moment in time,

And that soon, my friend will be ever so fine.

We do not know what the future will hold,

God blends our lives with the good and the bold.

Right now we pray that his body will heal,

It is like we’re praying for him “on appeal”.

We keep close watch on his progress each day,

And hope he is soon in his usual way.

So dear Lord please keep him in your loving arms,

That his life will continue with his usual charm.

Written for a very sick Friend

Copyright - October 7, 2009

MY THOUGHTS FOR YOU BOTH

The Lord Giveth and He taketh away,

But why us, sometimes we say.

We know not why --  no rhyme, no reason,

But every soul does have their season.

A little soul we have here still, 

Residing peacefully in her cocoon,

We plead to know, O Lord your Will,

And pray we’ll be enlightened soon.

Our faith in you, O Lord,

Is strong, steadfast and sure,

We know that You will guide us,

Our situation to endure.

We believe Your love is always there,

More abounding than we know,

And we understand that You will guide us,

And keep our spirits from sinking low.

Strengthen us in our tears,

Guide us in our fears,

Uplift us in our sorrow,

Help us through each tomorrow.

And with this little soul we’re molding,

In our hearts, our soul and mind,

Should it be, this place she’s holding,

Is just special for a little time?

We think about her life to come,

And contemplate our joy,

But while inside her little home,

Can only with her future toy.

This little soul needs so much help,

Much more than we can give,

Her life is up to You, Yourself,

As just to how she’ll live.

If it be Your Will to hold her,

In your strong and so soft hands,

Then we’ll send her on her journey,

So her soul with You will stand.

She’ll not be from us far away,

Just right inside our hearts,

We just have to enter there,

And look back on former thoughts.

We’re returning Gabriella to You,

For her care ‘till we arrive,

“cause You know everything to do,

So her soul with You will thrive.

Yes, our hearts are deeply saddened,

And our eyes are closed with tears,

As we return this blessed bundle,

To keep You company through our years.

We know we’ll get to see her,

In the joyous bye and bye,

When our years here have grown dim,

And take our journey through the sky.

Written to a young couple

on the birth & passing of their  premature daughter,

By Ruth Miller

©2006

TO MY FRIEND WITH A SAD HEART

A sad heart toils slowly through the day,

     Wondering just why things are this way.

Touched by love and fear and grief,

     The spark of life gone . . .  stolen like a thief.

You pace, you cry, you worry and pray,

     You’re concerned ‘bout how to get through this day.

Your life is shattered to the marrow in your bones,

     Your heart now in shreds, your soul inwardly groans.

Life’s pathways can seem totally asunder,

     Some days make no sense. . . we simply wonder.

Other days are simple and full of life,

     Then there are those sudden days of strife.

Becoming a parent is a great task indeed,

     Supplied with no manual on how to proceed.

We train our children day in and day out,

     And pray that maturity will soon come about

God gave each of us a free will, we  know,

     But children have a certain line to tow.

When an adult they become and out on their own,

     We hope and pray good seeds have been sown.

We pray for their well being, the decisions they make,

     And  this is life, which in stride we must take.

When things go wrong, and we want to be there,

     Best not to be, this is their “affair”.

Parents hurt so when things go amiss,

     But maybe there’s a reason for just such as this.

No one wants to see things go awry,

     And we silently cry to ourselves,  Oh my, Oh why?

We put ourselves through such an emotional state,

     We think our parenting has not been first rate.

We tend to blame ourselves, taking a guilt trip for sure,

     But sometimes, things are meant for us to endure.

Your job as a parent has long been completed,

     You can’t take the attitude of “I’ve been defeated”.

There are sources at play here beyond your control

     And yes, in time, some may take their toll.

You can be there by phone, in their times of need,

     But don’t be surprised if your advice they won’t heed.

They know deep down, things have gone way too far,

     And they know they’ve crossed the “line on the bar”.

Satan puts things before us, a little at a time,

     He entices us to play along with his little rhymes.

We don’t see the error until it’s too late,

     And then there is trouble . . . what a sad state.

Sometimes, however,  in God’s mercy and wisdom,

     Such toll has to be taken to gain back our freedom.

Maybe, just maybe, this is a blessing in disguise,

     Sometimes we have to go down before we can rise.

We have a Father who loves us so much,

     He  knows and certainly feels our pain as such.

He hurts with us and is really engulfed in our pain,

     He knows you think that you are going insane.

We pray for His guidance throughout each coming day,

     We pray for His strength to carry us on our way.

We pray for our children that they finally see,

     Just what this is doing to us, John and me.

We pray that they realize their life is a sham,

     We pray for their strength to take this in hand.

We pray for the child throughout all of this,

     And that You will protect her with nothing amiss.

We pray that You will guard her, keep her safe,

     From the ugliness that is there, possible anger and hate.

We pray their attitudes and actions will not mar her mind,

     We pray she will understand and be ever so kind.

We beg your intervention Lord, whatever form that may take,

     Help them to realize the horribleness of this sad mistake.

Strengthen their resolve to see through to Your light,

     Please guide them Oh Lord,  bring them into your sight.

We have come before You this day with our pleas,

     We know our burdens You’ll help  to relieve,

We will continue to come to you, every day of our life,

     For we know that You too want to see this go right.

Our souls are emptied, deep down to the core,

     Our hearts are broken, so jagged and sore.

Our tears flow so freely day after day,

     But we know through You is the only way.

Written to my Special Friend

for encouragement

©January 21, 2010