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Candles flame in darkness,
My daughter, like the candles,
As I light the candles,
As her light joins my lights,
By Genesse Bourdeau Gentry
Flicker, steadily glow,
Bringing light from shadows
And help to soothe me so.
Gave my life true light,
I use the candle's beacon
To connect us in the night.
My wish and my request
Is that she'll see my signal
And know my love's expressed.
Our worlds touch and flame.
As I snuff out the candles,
I softly say her name.
from Stars in the Deepest Night - After the Death of a Child
Another Annual Candlelight Ceremony is here.
At 7 PM Global every year hereafter.
A time to remember those we've lost ...
Missing their smiles & hearing their laughter!
We come together tonight to remember
each loved one & each dear friend.
It matters not how long they've been gone,
our hearts just don't seem to mend.
It’s a special night to honor the children.
December ninth, Two Thousand & One.
A night to take a friend by the hand
cause their journey may have just begun.
A time to honor each precious life
with a candle to solemnly light.
Wouldn't it be awesome if each candle we lit
could send rays of love into the night?
Too many children are no longer present.
Some just left us this past year.
So take hold of your neighbor's hand ...
And let them share with you a tear.
Take a look around you this night and see
precious friends & loved ones so dear.
Oh the candle you hold light up the Heavens ...
And may help you face another year.
You may have traveled a long way
to attend the ceremony tonight.
But never think that you are alone ...
Others have known your plight.
So, as you take someone by the hand,
let them know you share their grief.
Share with others the strength you have ...
Maybe you'll be the one to find relief.
Yes, tonight is a night to always remember.
For Death is so difficult to comprehend.
It doesn't matter how long they've been gone ...
Maybe tonight your heart will start to mend.
~Author~
Kaye Des’Ormeaux
Copyright 2001
Dedicated to the Worldwide Candlelighting Ceremony
December 9, 2001
Can you see our candles
Children we remember
All across the big blue marble
Oh, angels gone before us
Tonight the globe is lit by love
We will not forget,
Written by TCF Member Jacqueline Brown
Jacqueline Brown
Burning in the night?
Lights of love we send you
Rays of purest white
Though missing from our sight
In honor and remembrance
We light candles in the night
Spinning out in space
Can you see the candles burning
From this human place?
Who taught us perfect love
This night the world lights candles
That you may see them from above
Of those who know great sorrow,
But as we remember our yesterdays
Let's light one candle for tomorrow
And every year in deep December
On Earth we will light candles
As................we remember
For National Children's Memorial Day
Peace Valley TCF, New Britain PA
As parents lit their candles here on earth below
it started a flame of memory with it's loving glow.
I fancied I heard the Lord say to all of heaven's throng
"Quiet children, look to earth, there shines a love so strong."
For in the hearts of parents there beats a never ending love
nurtured and tended by our Heavenly Father above.
Tears could be seen glistening on all the people's faces
not escaping God's notice as their path He lovingly traces.
As all of heaven watched with eyes so full of love
the small glow grew till it lit the heavens above.
Our children's presence could be felt here on earth below
hand in hand with God, it started with one tiny glow.
Charlene Dickerson
©12/10/00
This is a worldwide candle lighting started by the US national office of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) a self help support organization for bereaved families following the death of a child.
On the second Sunday in December at 7pm in every time zone around the world candles burn for one hour in memory of our children. This wave of light starts in New Zealand and move thru each time zone so the light moves around the world in 24hrs.
A Worldwide Candle Lighting began in 1997. After the first candle lighting we heard about a bereaved mom in New England who had gone to her town's public park with her candle and a sign and sat there in memory of her child for that hour. It made a major impact on the town. TCF decided to raise our community's awareness of them and bereaved parents by taking our candle lighting public in 1998. We had over 100 people and coverage by 3 of the local affliates of the major TV networks. We had a brief ceremony starting with lighting our candles at 7pm est followed by a welcome, reading of the presidential proclamation for National Children's Memorial Day, an inspirational reading, a poem and the playing of the song "precious Child". Then we invited the bereaved parents to come up one at a time and say their child's/children name or names. At 8pm we extinguished our candles and went home.
The Compassionate Friends
Thanks to Deb Alleman for the Graphics made on this page and Karen aka Blulady for the content and ideas on this page. Also thanks to Sue and Helen for research they did for this site.
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