To war he was called in a desolate land

Alone in a strange, distant place…Keep me safe so he often prayed.

Longing for home on a long journey back

Returning from and to what, and to whom?

Finally home..oh thank you Lord he prayed.

Home at last, after so very long, a new life

Now living alone yet now longing for life’s perfect mate

Hoping, trusting, but your will be done, he waited and prayed.

God brought them together, a life’s dream had come true

Now raising a family in love and peace and praise

Hard work and dreams, and life’s woes they came

But for all of us always he prayed.

Struggles, and work, and fun, and family,

A faith filled man, he worked hard in the prime of life

Teaching us all by his deeds and words

And steady as ever he prayed through strife.

Children grew then moved on

Yet remained close to his heart

They wandered but found their own way

And for us and for all, always and often, he paused and so often he prayed.

God called her home, his precious gift of love, his life, his own

So deeply missing and longing to see her, dreamed again to see her home

But returning to life he with family was loved, but again somehow strangely alone

Yet with longing for her and love for us all, his prayer life increased and had grown.

His new role came along as family center, and father it still was to be

He lived his life long and well in peace and with care

With faith and love in the arms of family

And still daily as always, and ever to be, he continued to offer his prayer.

Bead by bead following the path of his faith on his rosary every day

Looking back with love and memory,

Forward with hope,

True and steady, but softly he prayed .

Then still a new place, alone as he started,

With a full life of love and grace

He cared for strangers, new neighbors and friends

His presence a blessing to this place

His time, he said was a daily gift to use as God had willed

So he took the time and used it well and all the more he prayed

When his time had come, God called him home

A knowing smile came across Jesus’ face

For He knew Dad well this man of grace

His life was a prayer of faith.

God welcomed him then to His honored place

No longer alone, weak, nor ill

Together forever, with the ones he had loved

He still prays for us now and until.

The beads of his life now become our life’s prayer

His light shines on, never fades

Dad’s lesson was shown in his life to us

Because of how he had prayed.

ac061404