If Tomorrow Starts Without Me

my aunt's eulogy/poem from the Internet ^ | David M. Romano

[Tanniker Smith]

My cousin Patricia read the following poem at her mother's funeral yesterday. (That would be my Aunt Pat.) There wasn't a dry eye in the place. And if that didn't get you, then her sister Debbie, in her eulogy, remembering those who have left us since last August did: my Mom, their sister Barbara, my niece Lisa and most recently, our cousin Mary Ann.

Attrib. David M. Romano, 1993

If Tomorrow Starts Without Me…

If tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not here 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 toda...y,
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.
He 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 and walked 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 the love we shared, and all the fun we had.

[Tanniker Smith]

If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while,
I’d say goodbye 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.
When I thought of worldly things I might miss come tomorrow
I thought of you and when I did my heart was filled with sorrow.
When I walked through heavens gates I felt so much at home.
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 has passed but here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last
And since each day is the same there’s no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn’t do.
You have been forgiven and now at last you’re free.
So won’t you come and take my hand and share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts with out me don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.

[ScottinVA]

Very nice...

As my years move into the 60s and some of my friends and family members die away more often, I’ve thought more of my own mortality.

[NEMDF]

Thanks for sharing. But it is pretty blurry.

Remembering my 25 year old nephew, lost 5/31/2013, has not been found.

[SMARTY]

That’s nice.

My mom passed on the first. I am still stunned and very sad all the time.

[T-Bird45]

Most excellent post, especially for today for me. I just read a Facebook post by my 33yo son who is attending a funeral for a fellow church member. Upon putting on his rarely-worn suit coat, he found his grandmother’s funeral program in the pocket from when she passed away six years ago today. He decided to keep it in the pocket to have her memory close today.

Did I ever tell you I have a pretty cool son?

[Zeneta]

WOW.

Honor.

Silent

Respect

[ElectionInspector]

My mom passed on the first. I am still stunned and very sad all the time.

...so sorry for your loss. After 5 monthly anniversaries of my wife’s death, I highly recommend you find a local session of “Grieveshare” and go through the 13 weeks of sharing and learning about the grief process. Very valuable and supportive program usually put on by a church with people who have suffered the same loss helping you work through your own grieving. Best wishes for the best journey possible. Go to griefshare.org for the sponsors.

ymmv

[cld51860]

I wish I had read this at my Grandma’s funeral in December. But I honestly don’t know if I culd have gotten through it. Thanks for posting.

[Angelwood]

BTTT