The Clock of Life

... is wound but once ...

And no man has the power

to tell just when

the hands will stop

At late or early hour.

Now is the only time

you own.

Live...Love...Toil,

with a will.

Place no faith in tomorrow,

the clock

may then be still.

PRAYER # 162

He never thought when leaving home,

He would never more return,

That he in death so soon would sleep,

And leave us here alone.

He was always there when

we needed him,

No task too great or small,

With loving heart and willing hands,

For us he did it all.

We hold him close within our hearts,

And there he shall remain,

To walk with us throughout our lives,

Until we meet again.

PRAYER # 163

[He or She]

Don't weep at my grave,

for I am not there,

I've a date with a butterfly

to dance in the air.

I'll be singing in the

sunshine, wild and free,

playing tag with the wind

while I am waiting for thee.

PRAYER # 164

A Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God,

wherever flames may rage.

Give me strength to save some life

whatever be it’s age.

Help me to embrace a child

before it is too late,

or save an older person

from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and hear

the weakest shout

And quickly and efficiently to

put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and

to give the best in me.

To guard my every neighbor and

protect his property.

And if according to my fate,

I am to lose my life,

Please bless with your protecting

hand my children and wife.

PRAYER # 165

The Fisherman's Prayer

I pray that I may live to fish...

Until my dying day.

And when it comes to

my last cast,

I then most humbly pray:

When in the Lord's

great landing net

And peacefully asleep

That in His mercy I be judged

Big enough to keep.

PRAYER # 166

We feel so sad when those we love

Are touched by death's dark hand,

But it would ease our sorrow

If we could but understand

That death is just a gateway

That all men must pass through

And on the other side of death,

In a world that's bright and new,

Our loved ones wait to welcome us

To that land free from all tears

Where joy becomes eternal

And time not counted by years.

PRAYER # 167

Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star. And one

clear call for me! And may there be

no moaning of the bar when I put out

to sea. But such a tide as moving

seems asleep too full for sound and

foam. When that which drew from out

the boundless deep turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell, and after

that the dark! And may there be no

sadness of farewell when I embark;

For though from out our borne of

time and place the flood may bear

me far, I hope to see my Pilot face

to face when I have crossed the bar.

PRAYER # 168

Right now I’m in a different place,

And though we seem apart,

I’m closer than I ever was....

I’m there inside your heart.

I’m with you when you greet each day,

And while the sun shines bright,

I’m there to share the sunsets, too...

I’m with you every night.

I’m with you when the times are good

To share a laugh or two,

And if a tear should start to fall...

I’m always there for you.

And when that day arrives

That we no longer are apart,

I’ll smile and hold you close to me...

forever in my heart.

PRAYER # 169

Don’t mourn for me

I’m still here,

though you don’t see.

I’m right by your side

each night and day,

And within your heart

I long to stay.

My body is gone

but I’m always near,

I’m everything you feel

and see or hear.

My spirit is free

but I’ll never depart,

As long as you keep me

alive in your heart.

PRAYER # 170

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship, at my side, spreads her white

sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object

of beauty and strength. I stand and

watch her until, at length, she hangs

like a speck of white cloud just where

the sea and sky come to mingle with

each other. Then, someone at my side

says, "There, she is gone" Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is

just as large in mast, hull and spar as

she was when she left my side. And,

she is just as able to bear her load

of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me – not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone

says, "There, she is gone," there are

other eyes watching her coming,

and other voices ready to take up the

glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

PRAYER # 171

SHE IS GONE

I am standing on the seashore.

A ship spreads her sails to the

morning breeze and starts for

the ocean. I am watching until

she fades on the horizon, and

someone at my side says,

"She is gone."

Gone where? The loss of sight

is in me, not in her. Just at the

moment when someone says

"She is gone," There are others

who are watching her coming.

Other voices take up the glad

shout, "Here she comes!"....

And that is dying.

PRAYER # 172

Do not look forward in fear to the

changes in life; rather look to them

with full hope that as they arise,

God, whose very own you are, will

lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it, God

will carry you in His arms. Do not

fear what may happen tomorrow, the

same everlasting Father who cares

for you today, will take care of you

then and everyday. He will either

shield you from suffering, or will

give you unfailing strength to bear

it. Be at peace and put aside all

anxious thoughts and imaginations.

PRAYER # 173

God hath not promised

Skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways

All our lives through;

God hath not promised

Sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow,

Peace without pain.

But God hath promised

Strength for the day,

Rest for the labor,

Light for the way.

Grace for the trials,

Help from above,

Unfailing sympathy,

Undying love...

PRAYER # 174

May He support us all the day long

till the shades lengthen

and the evening comes

and the busy world is hushed

and the fever of life is over

and our work is done.

Then in His mercy...

may He give us a safe lodging

and a holy rest

and peace at the last.

Cardinal Newman

PRAYER # 175

Death is nothing at all —I have only

slipped away into the next room.

Whatsoever we were to each other,

that we are still. Call me by my old

familiar name, speak to me in the

easy way which you always used to.

Laugh as we always laughed at the

little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be the household word

that it always was. Let it be spoken

without effort. Life means all that it

has ever meant. It is the same as it

ever was, there is absolutely unbroken

continuity. Why should I be out of your

mind because I am out of your sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an

interval, somewhere very near,

just around the corner.

All is well.

PRAYER # 176

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