Christian Funeral Poems

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

— Biblical, KJV

Let not your hearts be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

— Biblical, KJV

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

— Biblical, KJV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

— Biblical, NIV

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

— Biblical, KJV

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid for me. I took His hand when I heard His call, I turned my back and left it all.

— Anne Lindgren Davison

Copyright Anne Lindgren Davison (1974).

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord, Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.

— Mary Stevenson / Margaret Fishback Powers

Copyright disputed among multiple claimants. Treat as copyrighted.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone." Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me -- not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying...

— Henry Van Dyke

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— Biblical, KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

— Biblical, KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

— Biblical, KJV

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

— Biblical, KJV

When tomorrow starts without me And I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me.

— David M. Romano

Copyright David M. Romano Estate.

If tears could build a stairway And memories a lane, I'd walk right up to Heaven And bring you home again.

— Unknown

God looked around his garden And found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth And saw your tired face.

— Melissa Shreve

Copyright attributed to Melissa Shreve. Copyright status unclear.

We seem to give them back to thee, O God, who gavest them to us. Yet as thou didst not lose them in the giving, so we do not lose them by their return. Not as the world giveth, givest thou, O Lover of souls. What thou givest, thou takest not away, for what is thine is ours also if we are thine. And life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; and draw us closer to thyself that we may know ourselves to be nearer to our loved ones who are with thee. And while thou dost prepare a place for us, prepare us also for that happy place, that where thou art we may also be for evermore.

— Bede Jarrett / William Penn

God saw you getting tired And a cure was not to be, So He put His arms around you And whispered, 'Come to me.' With tearful eyes we watched you, And saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

— Henry Francis Lyte

God looked around his garden And found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth And saw your tired face.

— Melissa Shreve

Copyright attributed to Melissa Shreve. Copyright status unclear.

When tomorrow starts without me And I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me.

— David M. Romano

Copyright David M. Romano Estate.

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last.

— Unknown

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says, 'There, she is gone.' Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. And, just at the moment when someone says, 'There, she is gone,' there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes!' And that is dying...

— Henry Van Dyke

God saw you getting tired And a cure was not to be, So He put His arms around you And whispered, 'Come to me.' With tearful eyes we watched you, And saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

If roses grow in heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me, Place them in my father's arms And tell him they're from me.

— Dolores M. Garcia

Copyright Dolores M. Garcia.

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus' love illumined Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth — You shall rest in God's own land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting! Oh, the joy to see you come!

— Unknown

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

— Biblical, KJV

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

— Biblical, KJV

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

— Biblical, KJV

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

— Biblical, KJV

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

— Biblical, KJV

God made a wonderful mother, A mother who never grows old; He made her smile of the sunshine, And He moulded her heart of pure gold; In her eyes He placed bright shining stars, In her cheeks, fair roses you see; God made a wonderful mother, And He gave that dear mother to me.

— Unknown

A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

A golden heart stopped beating, Busy hands now at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

If roses grow in heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me, Place them in my Grandma's arms And tell her they're from me.

— Dolores M. Garcia (adapted)

Copyright Dolores M. Garcia. Adapted for grandma.

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free! I follow the plan God laid for me. I saw His face, I heard His call, I took His hand and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way; I've now found peace at the end of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss; Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, Look for the sunshine of tomorrow.

— Unknown

God hath not promised Skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways All our lives through; God hath not promised Sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain. But God hath promised Strength for the day, Rest for the labour, Light for the way, Grace for the trials, Help from above, Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.

— Annie Johnson Flint

We little knew that morning That God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, In death we do the same.

— Ron Tranmer

Copyright Ron Tranmer.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

— Biblical, KJV

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

— Biblical, KJV

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

— Biblical, KJV

When God made grandmothers He made them sweet and kind, He gave them gentle natures And a warm and loving mind. He gave them hearts of patience That could soothe a child's small fears, And hands so soft and tender That could wipe away the tears. He gave them eyes of wisdom To see beyond what others see, And arms that always opened wide With room upon their knee. When God made grandmothers He made a special friend, Whose love would know no boundaries And whose faith would never end.

— Unknown

In my Father's house are many rooms, And I have prepared a place for you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, For I go to make things new. There will be no more sorrow, No crying, and no pain. The former things have passed away; Love eternal shall remain. So trust in the promise given, That we shall meet once more, In the house of many mansions, On that bright eternal shore.

— Unknown

If I should die and leave you here awhile, Be not like others sore undone, who keep Long vigils by the silent dust and weep. For my sake turn again to life and smile, Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do Something to comfort other hearts than thine. Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine, And I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

— Unknown

I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when life is done. I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done. I want to walk the golden stairs to meet the ones I knew, And find at the end of each rainbow, the promise God made true.

— Unknown

Do not weep for me, For where I am now, I am at peace. I have passed through the gate of glory And found my sweet release. I am in the arms of angels, Bathed in heavenly light. Do not weep for me, dear ones, For I am home tonight. Remember me with laughter, Remember me with love, And know that I am watching From the heavens up above.

— Unknown

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

— Biblical, KJV

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

— Biblical, KJV

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

— Biblical, KJV

I'm spending my Christmas with Jesus this year, I couldn't wait for the holidays, I wanted to be here. I know this isn't the Christmas that you planned, But I hope you'll try to understand. The place is so beautiful, beyond my wildest dreams, There's peace and joy and happiness; I know how strange that seems. Please don't be sad or cry for me; I'm spending Christmas with the King, you see. I'll ask Him to bless you just for me, Merry Christmas from heaven, your family.

— Unknown