SPECIAL POEMS

I WANTED TO TEACH YOU I wanted to teach you. I wanted to teach you all that I know. To teach you your ABC's and tie your shoes. I had so many things that I wanted to teach you. To hold my hand when we crossed the street. To always say your blessings before you eat. I wanted to teach you how to read and how to write. To teach you the difference between what is wrong and what is right. I wanted to teach you how to build sandcastles in the sand. I wanted to teach you how to grow up to be a good man. I wanted to teach you how to tie a neck tie on your very first try. How I know a real man isn't afraid to cry. To make choices and learn from your mistakes. To always do your best no matter what it takes. I wanted to teach you so many lessons throughout your life. Someday I would've been able to teach you and your wife.... About how important family really should be. About how nice it's been watching your mother grow old with me. I had a lifetime of lessons that would form who you would be, But little did I know you would be teaching me. Teaching me that life is very precious and we have so little time to embrace it all. I now know you will be there to help me when I fall. To teach me that God's miracles happen each and every day. To not let even one moment just slip away. Because of you I will always smile a little more, Laugh a little longer and hold a loved one a little tighter. I wanted to teach you. I wanted to teach you, but instead you taught me. I love you my sweet son!!! Daddy (written 6/9/01 for Darious' Memorial Service)

ANGEL Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born, so one day he asked God: "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.  Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day and you will feel your angel's love and be happy." "How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language that men talk?" "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." "What am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" "Your Angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "I've heard on earth there are bad men, who will protect me?" "Your angel will protect you, even if it means risking her own life." "But I will be sad because I will not see you anymore." "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard and the child in a hurry asked softly: "Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." "Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel Mommy."

YOU'RE A SPECIAL LITTLE ANGEL "You're a special Little Angel," the Great Master said, as he gently caressed the curly hair of the Little Angel's head.  "You need to go to earth to spend some time, you know, a place I send most angels to be tested, to learn to grow."  The Little Angel, in sadness, slowly bowed his head and from his eye a tear did steal and down his cheek it shed.  "Don't fret now little one, I won't let you stay too long, I'll bring you back to help me here, you'll hardly know that you've been gone.  You're my choicest Little Angel, you're the apple of my eye."  And he wiped the tear and gently kissed His little Angel goodbye. I'm back," the Little Angel whispered, as he climbed onto His Master's knee, and the Master said, "I told you you would not be long away from Me."  And, the Lord, he noticed still another tear welled in his eye.  "Why are you so sad, Little Angel, what ever should make you cry?"  "I'm glad I'm back, the Little Angel said, but Master you must surely know when your angel came to get me, I did not want to go.  I know you said that you needed me, and that I'd be gone the shortest while, but Lord couldn't I have had a longer earthly trial?" The Master let the Little Angel slip down from off his knee.  He firmly took the little hand and said, "Come walk with Me".  The Little Angel and the Lord slowly walked hand in hand.  As the Master explained his special part in the great and marvelous plan.  "Now, Lord I don't mean to argue, I understand that you need me home, but I left in such a hurry.  I left everyone hurting and so alone.  I didn't let my earthly parents know how much I loved them so.  I was too small to tell them Lord, how will they ever know?  They feel they've been cheated and in a way, so do I.  Not getting to share anymore than we did, how can I ever tell them why?" "Little Angel, I know your heart is heavy with this message you need to share, but you need not worry anymore.  I'll watch over your loved ones there.  I'll send them comfort as a strong and helping hand.  I'll give peace at their aching hearts, so they will understand." The Little Angel looked up at his Master and said, "Thank you for explaining it to me and could you please tell them that I'm safe and happy and that someday they'll be here with me?" "Yes, said the Lord with a smile and a nod, I'll tell them all that I can."  Then the others came to see the Little Angel, as the Lord let go of his hand.  He said, "I'll tell them that you're pure, as pure as Heaven's gold.  That I needed the warmth of your perfect soul to keep Heaven from getting cold."