New Lyric, "Unending Love"

For my most recent workshop at Frankfort Kentucky's Regional Compassionate Friends conference, I chose to make my session even more interactive than my previous events.  Rather than just ask for stories  that reinforce my key concepts, I  wanted to get my attendees involved in the creation of a lyric illustrating a real-life situation.  My experiences have taught me about the healing power of music and the therapeutic value of almost any creative project.  Instead of just talking about it and encouraging others to try it for themselves, I wanted to have them actively  work on something with me.

I shared a story with my group about a woman who came to my office to schedule a surgical procedure and in the course of our reviewing her medical history she broke down and told me the story of her young child's death, and what her life had been like since the tragic event.  The women's fear of God's anger and her shame in giving up was so heart breaking and so surprising that I couldn't stop thinking about it.  

The truth is, this has happened more than once in my office, but this time the story was so  very touching and the mother so very fearful and burdened with guilt that I simply had to share it with others who would understand.  So I chose the story to be the foundation of the song lyric below.   

 I want to thank my amazing workshop friends and the thoughts and emotions they helped me understand as I crafted this bit of prose.  They told me what moved them and what parts of the story could not be left out - and what could.   Their insights guided me as I wrote and their encouragement helped me take it to completions.  

While I am working to put this to music I feel sure the words are meant to be shared now rather than later.   Please take a moment to think about how YOU would have reacted to her story and how you WILL react the next time you find yourself with a newly bereaved parent who needs someone who will listen and offer comfort.

Today I saw a mother's pain.

She could not bare to speak the name

of a child who's heart no longer beats,

Who's hand           she can

no longer reach. 

She lost her will to live she said

the day she heard her child was dead

and she begged her God to take her too

to stop          her heart

now torn in two.

But now

Now that she has found a little faith again

She fears her tragic prayer-     was such a sin

That an angry God may some day let her in

but she'll never        see  her

child  again.

-----------------------

What could I say?

And how could I explain what mortal eyes can't see?

That heaven is a place where love will always be

unbreakable       unshakeable

  eternally.

I know it's true

The one thing that will last when all the world is gone

the one thing ever shining that goes on and on

Both here below and up above

forever more 

Unending Love 

Let go of guilt and come with me

I know a place where others see

no shame or fear when mothers grieve

they lost        someone

like you and me. 

You're not alone I promises you

They know the pain you're going through

and when you've heard their stories too

You'll share       their tears

and know it's true 

sme day you'll say

there is more to life than mortal eyes can see

That heaven is a place where love will always be

unbreakable      unshakeable

eternally

I know it's true

The one thing that will last when all the world is gone

the one thing ever shining that goes on and on

Both here below and up above

forever more

 Unending Love 

 She asked how I could know for sure

I tried to my best to answer her

My heart has learned from joy and pain

No love       is Ever

shared in vain 

From our first breath on earth below

beyond this life my soul will know

one thing endures in heaven above

for all of time

Unending Love 

Some day you'll feel

(that) there is more to life than mortal eyes can see;

That heaven is a place where love will always be

unbreakable    unshakeable

eternally 

I know it's true

The one thing that will last when all the world is gone

the one thing ever shining that goes on and on

Both here below and up above

forever more 

Unending Love