He Guides My Path – The Writing of Sarah Berthelson

To the veterans of World War 11, I salute you today

It has been a long time ago but the memories will stay

I am so thankful for the sacrifice that you made

For the freedom that we share on this Memorial Day

God bless you dear ones that are  here to celebrate

Many have gone home but we have not forgotten  you

As we think of Belgium or Germany way back to that date

In 1944 there was one that I love

Celebrated Christmas in a hut that he is not sure of

It was somewhere over there, he was hiding that day

Just to stay safe with his buddies he prayed

God bless these wonderful folks that made sacrifices for us

Bless the loved ones that are sadden because theirs did not make it home on that bus

With a big salute I honor you today

Thank God you are here as I bow to pray

I learned this strange word several years ago
Bipolar was the word that I did not understand
As the doctor looked at my handsome son,
He said, ‘bipolar is what he has’
Never did I know what this disease could do
My wonderful child suffered and I could not know
The torture he felt when he was so low
Or the excitement he felt when he was high
To my sorrow I wish I had known
Just what he was going through
One day he said, Mom I enjoy the highs
But I know the low will come
It came one day with much despair
He went down in the woods and took his life
Oh how my heart aches today for the one that is gone
Manic-Depression is another name for this
Remember you are loved and take your medication
Don’t let BIPOLAR take control!!

Today it is cloudy and I am depressed
It really is true the weather effects my mood
I want to be happy and make people laugh
Maybe tomorrow the sun will be bright
I don’t like the darkness, I prefer the light
You aren’t sympathetic with folks like me
That is alright but someday you may see
The days that are gloomy you will feel sad too
I can’t remember feeling this way until my son died
Now when the sunshine is gone, I often cry
He was so wonderful and I loved him so
Often he was depressed and I did not know
What depression was like, not much did I do
I tried to comfort him and tell him things would be alright
Now I can thank God for the depression I have
To the ones that suffer, now I know
You are hurting and can’t take away the clouds
Maybe tomorrow the sun will shine.

I can remember when I had no idea what this word meant
Until I experienced it when my child killed himself
Many friends had told me what pain they endured
Couldn’t get out of bed or did not want to be with people
How strange that sounded to me until one day
I woke up and did not want to move
Did not want to get dressed or to teach Sunday School
What is happening to me when I dread the crowd
Oh I feel awful , I do not want to go out with my husband
I don’t know what to do, I don’t want him to know
That I do not want to go see the show
Now I remember what my friend said to me
Depression is terrible and I cannot describe it
Well it came on after I buried my son
Now I fight it with all my might but it comes
Without any warning, I am now depressed
Be patient with those that are suffering
You may be next as I well know

Ky was my first child, sweet and wonderful.
He was the one who wanted everything perfect …

His medication he would not take.
His life he did, Oh, what a mistake.

Often we wonder why our loved one has to die
When I think this way,  many times I cry
I have cried often since the TOWERS went down
All of the people that are suffering and the ones that died
The grief that is felt for the loved ones left behind
We have to remember that HE sometimes takes the rose
Watching TV and listening to the family and friends that were left
To grieve for their loved one that He allowed to go HOME
It hurts so badly to see the tears and the stress
Just remember that He sometimes takes the rose
My mother taught me when I was a child that we will die
I couldn’t understand when He took a child or the mother
Always someone was left behind to feel so empty and lost
Their loved one was taken and they could not understand
Mama would tell me sometimes HE will take the rose
It took me a long time to understand what that meant
Now I know that He sometimes take the rose to fill His
Bouquet to His perfection-Many roses went to be with Him
On September 11,2001

One year ago my heart was broken for the devastation that took place in our land
The heartache that came to all the ones that were left behind as their loved ones flew away
Into the arms of Jesus that was waiting for His children to come in
As I reflect on the grief of that terrible day of 9-11-2001
I see so much goodness in the people of America, that is our home
The fireman that died to save another, the policeman that ran to help
The doctors, nurses, the ambulance drivers and helpers that went flying to rescue and save others
Love stepped in when hate could have overtaken our country
We saw it in the faces all around us and on the television that brings us the news
The sad expressions as they so patiently told us what was happening in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania
The hero’s that will forever be implanted in our memory
One year ago my life was changed because of you-all of you
That showed me what courage really is plus the dignity that
You showed as you held your head high and told your story
God has blessed America in a tragedy that we never dreamed of
This is America and disasters like 9-11 doesn’t happen in America
Well it did happen and America stood tall as they watched the tower fall
Our President showed us what he is made of, he believes in our freedom
That we have enjoyed all through the years, he proved his integrity to this country
As he went to the people and poured out his heart of sadness and pain
To the young soldier that he went to his bedside and saluted
May we look at the good that our brothers and sisters showed on that fateful day
One year ago many of our children lost a parent and you were there to take over
One year ago you held a bloody body until the ambulance arrived
One year ago you place our flag on your homes, your cars ,everywhere
That you could let the world know that this is your land, this is my land, this is OUR LAND
GOD BLESS OUR LAND as we continue to help and to heal!!!

My Heart Is Breaking

My heart is breaking but you cannot tell
I put a smile on my face and speak as I will
Carrying on a conversation if you have the time
My heart is breaking and no one knows why
I am grieving because of the losses in my life

Parents never get over the death of a child
It hurts real bad when your parents are gone
Nothing compares to that child you hold so dear
He has gone on before me and I am so broken
How many people have I passed today that have a broken heart

It may not be the same reason as me, yet we keep on going
Hoping for the best in the people we see
I have come to realize that most people are hurting
Maybe not for the same reason but the pain is the same
My heart is breaking but I must go on, looking like I am happy
That way people will not feel sorry for me
I am a good actress because of the hurts
Pretending I am fine, when in fact my heart is breaking!!

My dearest friend that I shared my life
Left today and will not be back
Just the memories that I hold so dear of a friendship
That was so close that we thought alike
We could finish the others sentence
Knew when the other was sad just by hearing her voice
Heaven gained a saint today as my friend left this world
She was so ready to go to meet her savior face to face
Of course she feared as we all do
What death is like we do not know
Just the assurance that Jesus is there
We will know as we are known
My child is there and she will meet him there
Probably say ‘Your mother said hi’
It will be more pleasant now as I look into the sky
Knowing my friend is somewhere up there
So much I don’t understand and I often wonder WHY
God sees fit to call his children home
Yet in his wonderful grace it was his plan for us to die
We are here for a moment then will meet him up there
My friend left me today but I will see her by and by
It could be tomorrow or a year or more
To her it will only be a moment and her loved ones will show
Many of her family and loved ones greeted her there
An empty place in my heart but hers is whole again
No worry or pain to suffer on this earth
Peace and contentment will be hers for eternity
I am lonely for you all ready but I know you are happier
Than I can imagine!!!