Our father was a farmer – Verse 263

Our father was a farmer,
His heart was in the soil
It’s there he found his solace,
Among the grimy toil.
He planted the seed in springtime,
The spuds, the beans, the hay,
He prayed that God would bless them,
A harvest, Lord, he prayed.
He tilled and cultivated them,
Provided the most tender care,
Believed that come October,
He’d reap a harvest fair.
Blue skies were his cathedral,
A tractor, his altar of prayer,
God met him in the hayfields,
They had communion there.
Our father was a farmer
That’s all he ever was.
The values that the land taught him,
He handed down to us.
We loved our farmer father -
We’re thankful, he was ours,
We pray that God will bless him,
Today and for all time.

One At Rest – Verse 266

Think of me as one at rest, for me you should not weep.
I have no pain, no troubled thoughts for I am just asleep.
The living, thinking me that was, is now forever still
And life goes on without me now, as time forever will.

If you heart is heavy now because I’ve gone away,
Dwell not long upon it, friend, for none of us can stay.
Those of you who liked me, I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who loved me, I thank you most of all.

And in my fleeting lifespan, as time went rushing by
I found some time to hesitate, to laugh, to love, to cry.
Matters it now if time began if time will ever cease?
I was here, I used it all and now I am at peace.  

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes – Verse 268

O Holy Virgin,
in the midst of your days of glory,
do not forget the sorrows
of this earth.
Cast a merciful glance upon
those who are suffering,
struggling against difficulties,
with their lips constantly pressed
against life’s bitter cup.
Have pity on those who love
each other and are separated.
Have pity on our rebellious hearts.
Have pity on our weak faith.
Have pity on those who weep,
on those who pray, on those who fear.
Grant hope and peace to all.

Boxers Prayer – Verse 228

I ask you not for victory...
for somehow, that seems wrong,
but only for protection,
and the courage to be strong.
 
Strength not to conquer
but just that I'll fight well
and prove myself a sportsman
at the final bell.
 
And if by chance, he floors me
and the canvas I should meet
like Simon of Cyrene
Please help me to my feet.
 
Please help me to go the distance,
through rounds with danger rife,
not only in the boxing ring,
but in the larger ring of life.

Timothy – Verse 229

I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the
crown of righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

We miss your smile – Verse 236

We miss your smile, your joking ways,
We miss the things you used to say.
And when old times we do recall,
It’s then we miss you most of all.

Firefighter’s Prayer – Verse 201

When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage,
give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little 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 an defficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling, and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbour and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life,
please bless with your protecting hand my Family and friends.

Golfers Prayer – Verse 190

“Almighty God, as we play through our 18 holes of life, we pray that you will give us a drive that’s both long enough to reach our goals, and yet straight enough to keep us out of trouble.

“Help us avoid the traps and hazards of life; nevertheless, should we find ourselves in them, give us the tools, skills and desire to escape them with no penalty. May we always stay in bounds.”

“Help us to be willing to stand by - and not play through - those in genuine need. May we always play with honor.”

“And finally, when we’ve putted out on the 18th green, we pray that we will have demonstrated the integrity of our character, so that you will judge us worthy enough to join your threesome and play eternally on your heavenly course. Amen.”

The Golfers Prayer – Verse 191

Now I Lay Me Down
To Sleep I Pray The Lord
My Life To Keep
Though I Know You’ll
Eventually Take My Soul
Please Let Me Prepare
At The 19th Hole!

Ten Commandments for Fishing – Verse 195

Thou shalt have no other sports before fishing.
Thou shalt proudly boast of thy catch.
Thou shalt exaggerate wildly about the one that got away.
Thou shalt no sleep past dawn.
Thou shalt clean thy own catch.
Thou shalt not give away the secret of thy success.
Thou shalt honor the ones too smart to be caught.
Thou shalt practice the sport as often as possible.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s reel.
Thou shalt not reveal the source of thy catch.
Thou shalt give thanks to God, creator of all nature, for the catch of the day.

To have and to hold, and then to part – Verse 178

To have and to hold, and then to part,
Is the greatest sorrow of a broken heart.
Too young to die, too precious to lose,
We had no choice, we couldn't choose.
In thoughts we see you just the same,
With love and pride we speak your name,
You are never more than a thought away;
We love and remember you every day.
Every flower and leaf may wither,
Each evening sun may set
The hearts that loved and lost
Are the ones that will never forget.
I try so hard to hide,
Some people say as time goes by
The heartache will subside.
But the feelings in our hearts today
Are the same as the day you died.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
Your parting caused such pain
But the greatest day has yet to come,
When we will meet again.

A Place Where Children Are – Verse 185

What kind of place would heaven be with all its streets of gold,
if all the souls, that dwell up there like yours and mine, were old?
How strange would heaven’s music sound when harps begin to ring,
if children were not gathered ‘round to help the angels sing.
The children that God sends to us are only just a loan,
He knows we need their sunshine to make the house a home.
We need the inspiration of a baby’s blessed smile.
He doesn’t say they’ve come to stay, just lends them for a while.
Sometimes it takes them years to do the work for which they come.
Sometimes in just a month or two our Father calls them home.
I like to think some souls up there bear not one sinful scar.
I love to think of heaven as a place where children are.