Judith Anne St. John ~
5/23/49 - 1/26/93,
9/18/59 -1/18/94
1/11/52 - 1/8/99
~For Bereaved Parents~
'Twas the month before Christmas
and I dreaded the days,
That I knew I was facing~
this holiday craze.
The stores were all filled
with holiday lights,
In hopes of drawing customers
by day and by night.
As others were making their holiday plans,
My heart was breaking ~ I couldn't understand.
I had lost my dear child a few years before,
And I knew what my holiday had in store.
When out of nowhere, there arose such a sound,
I sprang to my feel and was looking around,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The sight that I saw took my breath away,
And my tears turned to smiles in the light of the day.
Whae what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a cluster of butterflies flustering near.
With beauty and grace they performed a dance,
I knew in a moment this wasn't by chance.
The hope that they gave me was a sign from above,
That my child was still near me and that I was loved.
The message they brought was my holiday gift,
And I cried when I saw them in spite of myself.
As I knelt closer to get a better view,
One allowed me tp pet it - as it knew -
That I needed the touch of its fragile wings,
To help me get through the holiday scene.
In the days that followed I carried the thought,
Of the message the butterflies left in my heart -
That no matter what happens or what days lie ahead,
Our children are with us - they're not really dead.
Yes, the message of the butterflies still rings in my ears,
A message of hope - a message so dear.
And I imagined they sang as they flew out of sight,
"To all bereaved parents - We love you tonight!"
~ By Faye McCord, TCF, Jackson. MS
Please visit her amazing page of Christmas gifts at Christmas Angels 2006
Please also visit her daughter's Christmas web page ~
My Angel Tina's Christmas Page
with tiny lights like heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular please wipe away that tear
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring
for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I can't tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place
Can you just imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?
I'll ask him to lift your spirit as I tell him of your love
so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing
for I am spending Christmas in heaven and I'm walking with the King.
published by permission
Author's Note: "Lysandra Kay Bencke was my thirteen year oldhandicapped daughter. On Christmas day 1997, Lysandra had a seizure and
was in a coma for five days before she passed away. During those five days
I wrote the poem "Christmas in Heaven". I sent it out in belated Christmas cards
to over 100 friends and relatives that year. They have also sent it on
to other friends and relatives, thus how the poem has been changed
and the story behind it."
To shatter all the darkness and bless the times we knew.
Like a beacon in the night
The flame will burn bright and guide us on our way.
Oh, today I light a candle for you.
The seasons come and go, and I'm weary from the change.
I keep on moving on, you know it's not the same.
And when I'm walking all alone
Do you hear me call your name?
Do you hear me sing the songs we used to sing?
And I will light a candle for you.
To shatter all the darkness and bless the times we knew.
Like a beacon in the night
The flame will burn bright and guide us on our way.
Oh, today I light a candle for you.
You filled my life with wonder, touched me with surprise,
Always saw that something special deep within your eyes.
And through the good times and the bad,
We carried on with pride.
I hold onto the love and life we knew.
And I will light a candle for you.
To shatter all the darkness and bless the times we knew.
Like a beacon in the night
The flame will burn bright and guide us on our way.
Oh, today I light a candle for you.
LIFE
Life is a road one must travel through
It has bends, turns, smooth, and learn we do
Through each experience we live this life
We smile, cry, hope. we know strife
Love is felt when our lives are complete
With the laughter of family, children the patter of little feet
How I loved the sound of their song in my ear
Their touch gentle on my heart held ever so dear
Life is precious but at times we fail to see
That it moves without notice, ending quickly
These are my thoughtts, now in my memory
As I am left here living my life so lonely.
Someone will see the world through Ed's eyes
They will see the colors, shapes forms that lies
In a world that he loved, he treasured
The miracle of this gift can never be measured
Whoever you are, wherever you are, let it be told
The beauty of the world is yours now to behold
Ed's gift to you is one of sight
May you see the beauty of God's world in Ed's light
My three children live in Heaven above
They look after me, shower me with love
I am here on earth in a temporary body and role
To experience life, it's lessons, before I am spiritually whole
Then and then only, my three children I will see
And I shall go with them to live in eternity
Where is Heaven? I asked with a voice so small
Who lives up there? I would fearfully call
To the man in the moon way up high
Is that your home with the stars in the sky
When the sun rises, do you sleep?
Where does the day and night meet?
Who is in charge of the magical, mystical feat?
I am! said the beautiful man with love
I am! I am God and I live in the Heavens above.
I care for you and I Love You
And always there in everything you do.
My world around me is quiet and still
I feel I have reached my limits, sapped my will
I move slowly but easily along the way
I want no turbulence to move my day
Too much tragedy I had to endure
I need the peace, the quiet, of this I am sure
Judy, Jim, Ed my dearest three
You are in Heaven you have left me
I am down here on earth trying to survive
I must have Faith, Hope to stay alive
My life is so empty and forlorn
My mind is confused, I am lost, my heart is torn
I awaken each day to aching and loneliness
It is so hard to move on in this dull, dark sameness
I know that my journey on earth, one day will be through
And forever in Heaven I will live with the three of you
GEOFFREY P. EDWARDS
I sit here and my journey is still here
But I walk it now in peace and not fear
I have learned to live without the physical presence of my three
But their spiritual self I feel in the wind that caresses me
The flowers that grow to meet the butterfly
The stars that twinkle in the midnight blue sky
All this is God's way of letting me
Know, I too one day will be free.
but the waves washed it away.
I wrote your name on the sky,
but the wind blew it away.
I wrote your name in my heart,
and forever it'll stay.
A friend can hear a tear drop. 
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