I wish you were here:
For one more birthday to honor your presence.
For one more Easter to decorate your house.
For one more Thanksgiving to help with cooking.
For one more Christmas to open so many presents.
For one more occasion to say that we love you.
For one more day of sharing your kindness.
For one more hour of telling some secrets.
For many more moments of getting to know you,
and to hold your hands as you desperately needed.
For zillions of times to mend whatever was broken.

I wish you were here:
For you to appreciate the beauty of nature.
For you to take journeys you weren't able to finish.
For you to stand outside without a wheel chair below you,
and walk for so many miles as the sun gives you comfort.

I wish you were here:
For you to be able to enjoy your grandchildren, and spend
more time which was devastatingly shortened.  
For you to be living instead of taken from us.
For you to be healthy and happy without the pain that you
suffered.  I wish you could be here to do this again.

Now that you're gone and the distance is lonely, my smiling
has vanished while the tears are constantly flowing.
I am here, you left me behind.  You are there, Heaven is
privileged.  I miss you my dear mother. and I'm hoping you've
heard me.  When it's my time to go, I pray that you'll find me.

Deborrah Ann Stenberg