Malinda's obituary and poem
To my dearest, most beautiful daughter Malinda:
I am not ready for this, I am not prepared to say good by
but God has taken you from us. And I am here alone
with a pain that is beyond my ability to endure or understand
and yet I feel you are with us all and so very near. My eyes shed
tears from missing your beautiful smile but in my heart I know
that you are now with the angels in heaven. You have given all of
us memories of kindness and friendship. You have touched us all with
your music, your songs, your visions, and your dreams
but more than all of this you have blessed us with your love.
You are free now and a spirit that moves through us and with us,
but as you gently pass from this world to your new home I want you to know
that there is a place where you are not alone.
It is a place where you will always live in the hearts and minds
of every single one of us who have known you and have loved you.
For the greatest gift you have given all of us was yourself.
Oh, my most beautiful Malinda I will love you until the end of time.
And someday in a place that I am unable to comprehend I will hold you in my arms again and kiss you good night, but there, I will never have to say good by.

Your Dad



I remember the crying
and the nightmares
and the wanting to see you
after everyone had told me
that you went to heaven,
and I remember the coffin,
and the black hearse,
and the stillness on your face.

and I remember holding your hand
while you cried,
when I begged him to wake up
but he wouldn't

and I remember the silence
of that day,
and the long ride to Monroe,
and the black clothing,
and the fresh flowers,
and the playing of taps,
and the tears

and I remember you holding me
while someone spoke softly in the rain
until you couldn't hold me any longer
and had to be held by grandpa
so you wouldn't fall down.

and after that day
I couldn't remember you anymore . . .

until now.

My beautiful Malinda ,
you will be mourned and missed by all
who have known you. Dear God
bless you, and keep you in all of our
hearts throughout eternity.


A Prayer for New Parents

O Lord, give us the wisdom ---
To deal with our children as You would,
To see in each of them Your Holy Image,
To develop in them a Christ-like love of
all men, not only a select few,
To teach them to be go-givers rather
than go-getters.
Oh God, in training these dear ones whom
Thou hast entrusted to our charge, help us ---
To encourage rather than discourage them,
To discipline with kindness not softness,
To guide them intelligently, not blindly,
To coach, not scold; to nudge, not nag.
Dear Lord, above all, help us ---
To use common sense in regard to their future,
To let them go gladly when the time comes,
To let them lead their own lives while following
them with our love,
To pray always that they will be close to Thee,
not only for the few years of this life
but for the endless years of eternity.

James Keller