The Journey From Mourning to Joy: Happy Birthday in Heaven My Child

Friday, August 27, 2010

Happy Birthday in Heaven My Child

Hope you won't mind, but today is our son Bobby's birthday - he would have been 37 and he's spending his first year in heaven.. I thought I would share this poem with you that I received... Happy Birthday Bobby and to all the children in heaven - Cherie Houtson..

Happy Birthday in Heaven My Child

~Author:Unknown~

Please help those all around me, to see and understand

That even though my child’s in heaven

The memories of our time together, are always here to stay

You see today is special, after all it’s my child’s birthday

I hope my friends will understand and see how much I care

And better yet can lend an ear, and smile as I share.

I pray they never lose a child or ever know this pain.

I just want them to know, my child’s memories remain

Oh yes today is special, another birthday it should be…

And yes I wish my child was here, but it wasn’t meant to be

I hope the angels sing aloud; I hope my child can see

As we celebrate their life and all their memories…

Love for our child begins so early and never goes away

And I’m grateful for their time on earth, but sad they couldn’t stay

Of course it wasn’t long enough, but how wonderful it was

Their laugh, their smile, but most of all, the gifts they left behind

So I hope that those around, can see beyond my smile

And my Words that, "I'm okay."

And know that yes today is special,

And join along with me

As we celebrate – today – my child’s birthday

Happy Birthday in Heaven My Child…

13 comments:

Ms. D12/4/12, 8:08 AM
This is beautiful - I loss both my children - one at 17 in an accident and one at 34 of heart failure. It is a journey from mourning to Joy.
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Anonymous4/19/13, 5:48 AM
This is so beautiful..I as well lost both of my only two children. One at 10 days from a congential heart defect and another at 29 years for SADS. It's a journey I wish no parent would have to struggle through...
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Anonymous6/22/13, 12:15 PM
June 23 is my son Matthew Ryan Bloomfield Birthday he will be 27 , he was killed a work related accident October 4 th 2011 who knew that day he would go to work and never come back home I miss him everyday ,9 month after that happen my oldest son Nathan had a car accident and has suffer a life has we new it will never be the same ,
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Anonymous3/19/14, 6:41 PM
beautiful.
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Cathy4/25/14, 9:22 AM
Sunday will be my son's Paul birthday he would be 24. This is a beautiful poem.
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Anonymous4/27/14, 9:09 PM
I feel your pain and every mother who loves there children. It shouldn't be that way a child should not leave before the parents. But only the Lord knows why he sets our lives this way. I lost my oldest child at 40 in a three vehicle collision, he was the only one who died. I love all my children but he was special, he always showed his love for me and called me everyday to tell me he loved me. He always came around to see us and helped us with cleaning or fixing things. The one thing I always remember because he always told me, is I LOVE YOU MAMA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR ME. Those are the words I will never forget. I feel your pain mothers you are not alone!
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Unknown5/20/14, 4:12 AM
Beautiful! Today is my son's 21st birthday...seems it never gets easier!
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Anonymous6/5/14, 12:54 AM
I lost my son on March 23rd 2014 My heart is with everyone who is grieving for there child
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MzAnn7/3/14, 7:28 PM
Beautiful
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Anonymous9/6/14, 8:19 PM
Beautiful poem, tomorrow would have been my son's 34th birthday. He dies in a work accident when he was 28. Tomorrow
is still his birthday
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Anonymous9/20/14, 6:55 AM
Thank you for this beautiful poem. My son Hans is 37 today. He passed away on the 30th of July 2004.when his heart stopped. I miss him every moment of everyday Life is never the same and all we can do is learn to live each and every day. Time does not make it easier but faith helps me thru.
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Anonymous11/15/14, 9:17 AM
Today is my youngest son 27th birthday. He died suddenly from car accident at age 17.I miss him everyday and miss him more on his birthday and death anniversary. My angel in heaven.
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SPECIAL NOTICES...

Join us at "Open Arms for Empty Hearts". Our goal is to take up the gauntlet begun by Joyce Floyd, founder of Journey from Mourning, now that she is moving on to other endeavors and continue with the idea of Mom's helping Mom's.

We meet the 2nd & 4th Thursday mornings each month at the Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center from 10am-12N.

Our meetings are open to all Mom's, new and old that wish to participate in celebrating their child's life and memories. As you all know, the loss of a child is probably the most painful loss one can suffer. Only those who have experienced that loss can offer their support and comfort to others. Our meetings are an open forum, members taking turns hosting the meetings, bringing their own experiences and knowledge to others.

We are also pleased to introduce the Facebook page for "Open Arms for Empty Hearts" and would encourage all moms to go to the site and feel free to post any comments, suggestions or ideas - again our Facebook page is another work in progress...

We are all looking forward to seeing all of you again and welcoming new members. Registration forms are available at all meetings so we have up-to-date contact information. We hope you will pass the word, and reach out to moms who have lost children... If you have any questions or suggestions you can also contact us at "openarmsforemptyhearts@gmail.com"

Charlyne, Debbie, Janet & Sharon

For the Newly Bereaved

In the early minutes, days, weeks, months and even years of grief, we find ourselves in an all consuming grief and pain beyond description. We find it difficult to carry on our everyday lives or to think of little except our children's death. Even our once wonderfully happy memories, shared with our children while they lived, now bring us pain for a time.

Bereaved parents do not "get over" the death of our children nor "snap out of it" as the outside world seems to think we can and should. The death of our children is not an illness or a disease from which we recover. It is a life altering change with which we must learn to live.

With the death of our children we are forced to do the "impossible"; build a new life and discover a "new normal" for ourselves and our families in a world that no longer includes our beloved children. It is important for newly bereaved parents to know that they will experience a wide and often frightening variety of intense feelings after the death of our children.

It is also important for newly bereaved parents to understand and know that all of the feelings you experience are very natural and normal under the circumstances. Equally important for you to know and believe is that as much as you cannot possibly believe it, you will not always feel this powerful and all consuming grief.

But right now you must follow the instincts of your soul and allow your bodies and hearts to grieve. The grief resulting from your child's death cannot be skirted over, around or under. You must go through it in order to come out on the other side.

Be gentle and patient with yourself and your family. Allow yourself to cry, to grieve, and to retell your children's story as often as needed and for as long as you need to.

Eventually, you will smile and find joy again. You will never forget your child; he or she will be with you in your heart and memories for as long as you live.

Special Requests for Prayers:

Sometimes, each of us needs special prayers to help us get through life's challenges and we may not know where to begin or how to ask for help. Together, as sisters in grief, our united prayers can have tremendous power - won't you join with us to pray for:

May 29th, 2013:

Janet Langeberg - underwent open heart surgery (4 bypasses) yesterday morning and her sister Rosie is keeping Joyce updated - Janet's surgery was a success and she is doing well (but still in ICU) We hope you will join us in keeping her in your thoughts and prayers..and we'll keep you updated on her progress..

For those of you who don't know (and don't say I told you) Janet is the secret angel who remembers us and our children on all the special days... so i'm hoping we can all repay her kindness with a few greetings as she recuperates...our. Please continue to pray for her, and we'll keep you updated with her progress.

(Janets address: 3717 Tahitian Dr., LHC, AZ 86406)

Who & What We Are All About

Our mission, since October 2001, is to offer comfort, hope and encouragement to mothers who have suffered the death of a child. There are no requirements as to the age of the mother, age of the child, or the cause of death.

If you have any questions or suggestions you can also contact us at "openarmsforemptyhearts@gmail.com"

We may not be able to make your pain go away, but as Moms, we can help you with a safe place to work through the grief process.

Note from Our Founder, Joyce Floyd: I am a bereaved mother who lost my youngest daughter Peggy in August of 1984, from injuries following an automobile accident; Peggy was only 24. I spent the first years asking God "Why Me?" "Why my Child?" When I came to a place of peace, I realized there was a need in my community for me to "be there" for others on the same journey. After completing the Hospice training program, the Interagency program and the Umbrella Ministries Grief Share training session, I began the support group: The Journey from Mourning to Joy, a non-denominational group.

In February 2014, when our Founder "retired", our name was changed to "Open Arms for Empty Hearts" continuing the focus of mom's helping other grieving moms in our community.

Note from Cherie Houston ~ Creator (& maintainer) of this Blog

I created and continue to maintain this blog since November 1st 2009, in memory of my son Robert "Bobby" Wood who died unexpectedly, taking his own life, on Saturday evening, September 19, 2009. Bobby was only 36 yrs. young, leaving his wife of 11 years and 2 young boys, 5 & 6 ~ his 2 brothers and 2 step-brothers, a large immediate and extended family and countless friends who loved him dearly.

Sadly I also lost 2 little girls, Randee Marie in 3/1971 and Robin in 7/1972, so this blog is and will continue to be a tribute to my three beloved children who are no longer with us physically and to all of your children ~ all of whom have gone much too soon.

I decided to create and maintain this blog after attending a few of "The Journey from Mourning to Joy" support meetings hosted by Joyce Floyd in Lake Havasu, AZ ~ our home 7+ months of the year. This blog is my way of thanking each and every member of that group, for their continued kindness, comfort and support which continue to help me on my journey, since my son Bobby's death.

I hope the information found here might help any mom whose child has died, in some small way ~ no matter the childs age or cause of their death, for all moms, and those who care about those moms, we hope this Blog helps bring peace on this journey....

Know that you are not alone, and as the group so sweetly said to me when I arrived that first morning,

"We are sad you are here, but grateful you found your way to us"

Helpful Books to Deal with Loss of a Child at Any Age

- "A Grace Disquised" by Jerry Sittser
- "A Time To Grieve" (Series) by Kenneth C. Haugk
- "Appearing Competent When Your World Is Falling Apart" by Dr. Donna Peterson
- "Chasing Death-Losing a Child to Suicide" by Jan Anderson
- "Dreaming Kevin: The Path to Healilng" by Carla Blowey
- "Hello from Heaven: A New Field of Research-After-Death Communication Confirms That Life and Love Are Eternal" by Bill Guggenheim
- "I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One" by Brook Noel
- "I'm Grieving as Fast as I Can: How Young Widows and Widowers Cope and Heal" by Linda Feinberg
- "My Son...My Son: A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide" by Iris Bolton
- "Those They Left Behind: Interviews, Stories, Essays and Poems by Survivors of Suicide" by Karen Mueller Bryson