God saw you getting tired,
The cure was not to be.
So He closed His arms around you
And whispered "Come with Me."
You suffered much in silence
Your spirit did not bend.
You faced your pain with courage
Until the very end.
You tried so hard to stay with us
Your fight was all in vain.
God took you to His loving home
And freed you from all pain.
Never does a day go by
That I don't think of you
A lump forms deep within my chest
And tears begin to flow
So many times I've needed you
To talk, to share, to laugh
If love could have saved you
You never would have died.

Coming home

Written by Steve Lemire, in memory of his Mother,
Mabel Alice Lemire
1998 February

Coming home this time was going to be different, … Coming home this time was going to hurt. This time was going to be every minute of every day, reliving itself in my mind over the next few days… Well…, Days when summer seemed to last forever, … and winters were always warm,…. Mom wasn’t a homemaker, she was a home creator… She would always give to you when you were in need,… and would give you a little something even if you weren’t….and never asked for anything in return… That was Mom!
As far away as we might fly, we were always part of the nest, and a certain warmth came from it forever… somehow guiding, protecting and comforting us to our next plateau, … As Far as any dreams would reach,… so were the wings of an angel…, My Mommy…
…And in the last days that I saw her, and what nature’s course had done to such a strong woman…, I thought to myself how she smiled at me when I first walked into the room, and these are probably the most painful days of her life… But, I knew that these would be the most painful days of my life as well.. But then I realized that she had moved on with all of the love of her family by her side,… which is just what she wanted…, Then, I had something to smile about too.
Yes, coming home this time would be different, But, as always I would learn a little something new…. It seems all things have a beginning and an end, and it’s all the good stuff in between that Mom will leave me with forever…
And when our time comes to move on, we too shall look down with a guiding spirit to the generations below us….
This is life, This is love, This is Mom, This is Good bye….
Coming home this time would be different…., Coming home again would never be the same…..

Love Forever

STEVE

The Rose Beyond the Wall

Near a shady wall a rose once grew, 
Budded and blossomed in God's free light, 
Watered and fed by the morning dew, 
Shedding it's sweetness day and night.

As it grew and blossomed fair and tall, 
Slowly rising to loftier height, 
It came to a crevice in the wall 
Through which there shone a beam of light.

Onward it crept with added strength 
With never a thought of fear or pride, 
It followed the light through the crevice's length 
And unfolded itself on the other side.

The light, the dew, the broadening view 
Were found the same as they were before, 
And it lost itself in beauties new, 
Breathing it's fragrance more and more.

Shall claim of death cause us to grieve 
And make our courage faint and fall?
Nay! Let us faith and hope receive-- 
The rose still grows beyond the wall, 

Scattering fragrance far and wide 
Just as it did in days of yore, 
Just as it did on the other side, 
Just as it will forevermore.