Death is only an old door
Set in a garden wall;
On gentle hinges it gives, at dusk
When the thrushes call.

Along the linted are green leaves,
Beyond the light lies still;
Very willing and weary feet
Go over that sill.

There is nothing to trouble any heart;
Nothing to hurt at all.
Death is only a quiet door
In an old wall.
–Nancy Byrd Turner

Don't spend too much
time in mourning.
Tears are for the sad.  I left
to be with Jesus, and
this should make you glad.
Don't waste your
hours in grieving. 
No need to feel distress. 
I'm tired of life's frustrations,
and had to get some rest. 
Don't vex yourself with
questions, or try to reason why. 
Life here for me was ended;
it came my time to die.
Don't lose the love I gave you;
feed it with your care.
Grow it with devotion and
spread it everywhere.
Don't fret because my leaving
came in such a way.
We'll have another meeting,
in God's Eternal Day!

One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord,
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there was only one.
This bothered me because I noticed
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed you,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed during the most trying periods
Of my life there has only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
Have you not been there for me?
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
It was then that I carried you.”

God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through.
God hath not promised
Sun without rain.
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.

But God hath promised
strength for the day
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way.
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love…