MOM'S MEMORIAL

MOM'S MEMORIAL SERVICE


OPENING MEDITATION: AMAZING GRACE

MY MOTHER KNEW HER GOD BY MANY NAMES
AND MANY FACES
THEY ALL TAUGHT HER THE SAME
BE KIND
BE GOOD
WALK GENTLY ON THE EARTH

DID MY MOTHER EVER LOSE HER TEMPER
WAS SHE EVER WRONG
CERTAINLY
TO DENY THAT
WOULD DENY HER THE JOY OF BEING HUMAN
OF BEING ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE
ASKING THE AGE OLD QUESTION
WHO AM I
WHY AM I HERE


MY MOTHER NOW KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS
MY MOTHER NOW WALKS AMONG THE STARS

STRAIGHTENING UP MAYBE

HAVING TEA WITH THE ANGELS CERTAINLY

AND TELLING GOD HER LATEST CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD
WITHOUT DOUBT
AND HE BETTER LISTEN

AMONG THE FAMILY SHE WAS KNOWN AS THE GOOD WITCH
IF SOMEONE WAS SICK OR IN TROUBLE
AND SAID
I FELT GRANDMOM'S PRESENCE
IN FACT I SAW HER
NONE OF US WOULD BAT AN EYE
AFTER ALL THAT WAS OUR MOM
KEEPER OF THE UNIVERSE
AND PART TIME PROPHET

THE WORLD WILL BE A HOLLOW PLACE WITHOUT HER

WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
I READ THE FOLLOWING POEM IN READER'S DIGEST
IT MADE ME SO HOMESICK FOR MY MOTHER
I CUT IT OUT AND SENT IT TO HER

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN


WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR
PURPLE
WITH A RED HAT WHICH DOESN'T GO
AND DOESN'T SUIT ME.
AND I SHALL SPEND MY PENSION ON BRANDY
AND SUMMER GLOVES
AND SATIN SANDALS, AND SAY
WE'VE NO MONEY FOR BUTTER.
I SHALL SIT DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT
WHEN I'M TIRED
AND GOBBLE UP SAMPLES IN SHOPS
AND PRESS ALARM BELLS
AND RUN MY STICK
ALONG THE PUBLIC RAILINGS
AND MAKE UP FOR THE SOBRIETY
OF MY YOUTH.
I SHALL GO OUT
IN MY SLIPPERS
IN THE RAIN
AND PICK THE FLOWERS
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS
AND LEARN TO SPIT
YOU CAN WEAR TERRIBLE SHIRTS
AND GROW MORE FAT
AND EAT THREE POUNDS OF SAUSAGES
AT A GO
OR ONLY BREAD AND A PICKLE
FOR A WEEK
AND HOARD PENS
AND PENCILS
AND BEERMATS
AND THINGS IN BOXES.
BUT NOW
WE MUST HAVE CLOTHES
THAT KEEP US DRY
AND PAY OUR RENT
AND NOT SWEAR IN THE STREET
AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE WILL HAVE FRIENDS FOR DINNER
AND READ THE PAPERS.
BUT MAYBE I OUGHT TO PRACTICE A LITTLE NOW?
SO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME
ARE NOT TOO SHOCKED
AND SURPRISED
WHEN SUDDENLY
I AM OLD AND START TO WEAR PURPLE.


MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE ALL HER LIFE
NO MATTER HOW POOR WE WERE AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE
WHO ELSE WOULD BUY GRAPEFRUIT
SO THE GARBAGE MAN
WOULD THINK WE ATE WELL

WHEN WE WERE SICK AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WOULD CURE US
WITH A MAGICAL POTION
OF TOAST ON A GREEN PLATE
AND TEA IN A YELLOW CUP
BETTER THAN PENICILLIN
BECAUSE IF THAT DIDN'T WORK
IT WAS CASTOR OIL
HIDDEN IN A GLASS OF ROOTBEER
BELIEVE ME THE TEA
WAS BETTER


I KNOW WE ALL HAVE FOUND MEMORIES OF MOM
OR THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO HER
I WOULD ASK YOU NOW
FRIEND OR FAMILY
TO SHARE THEM WITH US NOW



(TIME FOR SHARING)


MY MOTHER LOVED THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM
IT GAVE HER GREAT PEACE
I CAN HEAR HER RECITING IT NOW
AS SHE LOOKS DOWN UPON US
WANTING TO TELL YOU
SHE IS AT PEACE
SHE WOULD SAY


THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED
HE LETS ME REST IN FIELDS OF GREEN GRASS
AND LEADS ME TO QUIET POOLS OF FRESH WATER

HE GIVES ME NEW STRENGTH
HE GUIDES ME IN THE RIGHT PATHS AS HE HAS PROMISED

EVEN IF I GO THROUGH THE DEEPEST DARKNESS
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID
FOR MY LORD IS WITH ME
HIS SHEPHERD'S ROD AND STAFF PROTECT ME

HE PREPARED A BANQUET FOR ME
HE WELCOMED ME AS AN HONORED QUEST
HE FILLED MY CUP TO THE BRIM

I KNOW THAT HIS GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL BE WITH ME
ALL MY LIFE
AND HIS HOUSE WILL BE MY HOME AS LONG AS I SHALL LIVE



ONE FINAL THOUGHT TO MY MOM AN OLD IRISH POEM


MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK IN SUNSHINE
AND GOD'S LOVE AROUND YOU FLOW
FOR THE HAPPINESS YOU GAVE US
NO SIMPLE WORDS WILL SHOW
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE
A PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME
A MILLION TIMES WE'VE NEEDED YOU
A MILLION TIMES WE CRIED
IF LOVE ALONE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE DIED


THE SPIRIT OF OUR MOTHER LIVES ON IN ALL OF US
IN LOVING KINDNESS OF HER MEMORY
LET US EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
SOME SIGN OF PEACE


CLOSING MEDITATION: HOW GREAT THOU ART