there is a God who tends us watchfully

demanding revërence unconditionally

but there are times weíd like to know,

why all the good ones have to go

hear the mockingbird sigh

we sing our praises through each laugh and tear

and thus betray our most relentless fear

to be among those left behind,

bereft with wounds we cannot bind

but the love will not die

we can see your face, we can hear your voice

in reflections of what weíve come to be

marking evíry pace, making evëry choice

with attention, panache and empathy

and when times get hard, we will stand our guard

though we miss you, we'll somehow get by

for if God is life and if life is love

in love you survive

there are more question marks than answers here

in this departing of a friend so dear

who could've known our precious time,

would stop abruptly on a dime

as we remember how you touched our lives

pain and bewilderment that cut like knives

when just allowed their own relief,

will soon becalm us in our grief

if we hold our heads high

we will see your face, we will hear your voice

in reflections of what weíve come to be

marking evíry pace, making evëry choice

with attention, panache and empathy

and when times get hard, we will stand our guard

though we miss you, we'll somehow get by

for if God is life and if life is love

in love you survive

for if God is life and if life is love

in love you survive