Only Loaned

                                 Today, in a thousand places, for a thousand reasons, an earthly life ended
                                 Now all the same, young and old, weak and strong, the rich and the poor
                                 Whatever they were, whatever they treasured is gone with their last breath.
                                 Leaving behind all those who would mourn now for the loss of their being
                                 Their allotted time here with us, to be, to give, to seek, to laugh now expired
                                 To some an end to a long life, while others leave us in the midst of childhood
                                 We know not why they must go, we only know hearts do so grieve for loss

                                 Tears fall, anger rages, questions lay forever unanswered, yet some smile.
                                 For they are the ones who may not understand but they know there is a plan
                                 Beginning before even born, their soul is only just loaned to us for a time
                                 God smiles, saying to us, here is one of my precious souls for just a while
                                 To learn from you, and to teach you, for you both to laugh, and both to cry.
                                 Some to walk hand in hand with you, while others must walk in their silence

                                 Each soul imprinted with a purpose all its own that others may never know
                                 And a personality evident at birth becomes subtly altered or enforced by us
                                 The souls given free will to find the hidden purpose, the special meaning of life
                                 A contribution needing to be made for which this spirit was loaned to the world
                                 Some bring joy and love, others build and plan, some only tear and destroy
                                 But to those who love them, all are mourned equally, here on earth and above

                                 And yet, would you be sad if your friend, your child, your parent, your love
                                 Said to you, I must go now, but know I am going to where there is never a tear
                                 Where there is no sadness, no crime, no hunger, only joy, laughter and peace
                                 Pain is not theirs, and if you could watch those who leave you would see peace
                                 It matters not what we see.. Be it a quiet death of old age or a violent accident
                                 Angels unseen are there, holding their hands escorting them into the light of love

                                 Never be sad for they are not sad. Remember not the bad times of their life
                                 or the circumstance of their leaving but only the joy, the learning and the love
                                 All they were to you they still are. They live forever in the memories of the heart
                                 Think of all the good times you were given, shared, while they were loaned to you
                                 Like picking up a phone and calling them across town or across the country
                                 You can still talk to them, and they can hear you. If you listen with your soul
                                 They will find they can still answer you with the messages still in your heart.

                                 Each of us is only loaned to this place for a little while before we go home again
                                 Taking new insights into our souls and hopefully leaving the world a better place
                                 Do not cry for others when they have gone for they still smile on us with love
                                 And wait patiently for us in that wonderful light until we hold them once again