To Anyone Who's Ever Lost Someone

*In loving memory of Ross Stewart Medsker, Feb. 4, 1986 - June 7, 2002. You will be missed.*

A great man died today. He wasn't a world leaderor a famous doctor or a war hero or a sports figure. He was no business tycoon, and you will never see his name in the financial pages. But he was one of the greatest men who ever lived. He was my father. -Author Unknown



I Wonder as I Wander
I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
Why do people I care about
Always have to die?

Are you happy where you are,
Wherever that may be?
I wonder as I wander
Do you still think of me?

Is it nice up there in Heaven?
For I know you made it up there
Are the clouds made out of marshmallows?
Do you know that I still care?

I look up at the winter sky,
And shed a single tear
I think of all the days gone by
I’ll always hold you dear

I wonder as I wander
Out under the sky
Why do people I care about
Always have to die?

-Hilary Begleiter, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff



It's Been a While
It's been a while since I've heard your voice
The warm comforting voice
Always uttering helpful words of wisdom.
You always knew so much more about life than I
Teaching me day by day

You watched my grow into a woman
Always supporting me no matter what.
You were proud of what I was becoming
Loving my endlessly without question, never judging.
While you were watching me mature into the person I am today,
I was watching you struggled to stay alive.

You said over and over that everything would end up all right in the end
You always knew just what to say to make the world seem like it was on our side
You were wrong this time, Mom-
The world wasn't on our side.

It took you away from me
Leaving me alone, longing for your love, motherless
Without someone to tell me I was beautiful
To wipe my tears away as they rolled down my cheek
Without someone to share my fears, my joys and my triumphs

I missed your voice again last night
I've missed it everyday since you've been gone
I saw your smile again last night
I've been wishing for it every hour since you've been away.

In my dreams you said
You'd always be near
And now that I think of it
You said the same thing
The day you died

You always did know just what to say
To make the world seem like it
Was on our side

Catherine Starr, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff



When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there 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 today
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 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
And 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 to walk 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 and so much yet to do
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and bad
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, for just a while
I’d say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see your smile
But then I fully realized that this could never be
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me
And when I thought of the worldly things that I’d miss so tomorrow
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow
But when I walked through heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne
He said, “This is eternity and all I’ve promise you,
Today for life on Earth is past but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,
And since each day’s the same day, there’s no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true,
Thought there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn’t do.
But you have been forgiven and now at you’re free.
So won’t you take my hand and share my life with me?”
So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.

-David M. Romano, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round? Or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?", Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow. And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"? You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift, thrown away.
Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.