Words of sympathy are a source of comfort for the bereaved and can be used for readings in a funeral service. They are also of benefit to read by anyone at anytime to remind us that there is nothing to fear from death, we are eternal beings and our loved ones are never far away.
All of these words of sympathy are from Unknown people and are listed alphabetically on the first line. There is also a page of Sympathy Poems/Readings from Known Authors.
Words of Sympathy:
Alone Yet Never Quite Alone
Alone yet never quite alone
I face an empty chair
But sometimes in the silence
I imagine you are there
The good companion of the past
No longer here with me
And yet in some mysterious way
You keep me company
Thought or spirit?
Does it matter?
Words are meaningless
I only know that in my times
Of greatest loneliness
I felt that you are somewhere near
Though nothing’s seen or said
The bitter moment passes
And my heart is comforted
I receive the strength I need
Am rescued from despair
Maybe that’s the way God works
The answer to a prayer
Words of Sympathy:
As I Sit In Heaven
As I sit in heaven and watch over you every day
I try to let you know with signs, I never went away
I hear you when you’re laughing and watch you when you sleep
I even place my arms around you, to calm you as you weep
I see you wish the days away, begging to have me home
So I try to send you signs, so you know you’re not alone
Don’t feel guilty that you have, life that was denied to me
Heaven is truly beautiful, just you wait and see
So live your life, be free
And know with every breath you take, you’ll be taking one for me
Words of Sympathy:
Every Day & Every Night
Every day and every night
When you feel the need to hold me tight
Just blow a kiss into the sky
For I will be that close by
In the Heavens throughout the day
I watch over you and hear you pray
I see you smile and shed a tear
For you know that I’m still near
I’m the Angel of your eye
Your Angel in the sky
Words of Sympathy:
God Called Your Name So Softly
God called your name so softly
That only you could hear
And no-one heard the footsteps
Of angels drawing near
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home
Words of Sympathy:
God Looked Around His Garden
God looked around his garden
And found an empty place
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain
He knew that you would never
Get well on Earth again
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, ‘Peace be Thine’
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home
Words of Sympathy:
I Asked God
I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His Spirit is whole,
his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations;
it isn’t granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you Blessings,
happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my Spirit whole.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me love others,
as much as He loves me.
God said, Ahhh, finally you have the idea.
Words of Sympathy:
I Miss You Every Hour
I miss you every hour of every day
And yet, dear one, I would not have you stay
If in the years ahead there would be pain
And maybe sorrow to be borne again
I count my Blessings as I call to mind
Our happy hours together, and I find
A bitter sweetness in the lovely hours
That now are all my own, but once were ours
I do the many tasks which once we shared
And treasure all the things for which you cared
I conjure up your voice and see your face
And thus can be with you in every place
My loneliness from you, that like a tide
Engulfs me now and then, I try to hide
Because I know, with joy, one thing is true
Each passing day is one day nearer to you
I only have to wait, and in my dreams
Relive our happy days, and if it seems
That days go slowly by, I shall not weep
Since I have such a loving tryst to keep
Words of Sympathy:
I Stood By Your Bed Last Night
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here”
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me
I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more
I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care
I want to re-assure you that I’m not lying there
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled with your key
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “It’s me”
You looked so very tired and sank into a chair
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there
It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday
To say to you with certainity, “I never went away”
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you
The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
And say “Goodnight, God Bless, I’ll see you in the morning”
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see
Be patient, live your journey out… then come home to be with me
Words of Sympathy:
I’d Like The Memory Of Me
I’d like the memory of me
To be a happy one
I’d like to leave an afterglow
Of smiles when life is done
I’d like to leave an echo
Whispering softly down the ways
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright and sunny days
I’d like the tears of those who grieve
To dry before the sun
Of happy memories
That I leave when life is done
Words of Sympathy:
If I Should Go Tomorrow
If I should go tomorrow
It would never be goodbye
For I have left my heart with you
So don’t you ever cry
The love that’s deep within me
Shall reach you from the stars
You’ll feel it from the Heavens
And it will heal the scars
Words of Sympathy:
Let The Dreams That Are Gone
Let the dreams that are gone fast asleep, my love
Let the tears and fear of yesterday’s storm
For the darkness you saw is past, my love
So smile and a new day is born
The seasons of life will go on, my love
And the sails of your ship may be torn
But the secrets beneath your feet, my love
Are the flowers that are yet to be born
Let the tears that you shed fall sweet, my love
For the pain goes and rainbows come without warning
All the seasons will surely return, my love
And new life will be born in the dawning
Words of Sympathy:
My Darling Went
My darling went
Unto the seaside long ago. Content
I stayed at home, for O, I was so glad
Of all the little outings that she had
I knew she needed rest. I loved to stay
At home a while that she might go away
“How beautiful the sea, how she enjoys
The music of the waves, no care annoys
Her pleasures,” thought I; “O, it is so good
That she can rest a while. I wish she could
Stay till the autumn leaves are turning red”
“Stay longer, sister,” all my letters said
“If you are growing stronger every day
I am so very glad to have you stay”
My darling went
To Heaven long ago, am I content
To stay at home? Why can I not be glad
Of all the glories that she there has had?
She needed change. Why am I loath to stay
And do her work and let her go away?
The land is lovely where her feet have been
Why do I not rejoice that she has seen
Its beauties first? That she will show to me
The City Beautiful, is it so hard to be
Happy that she is happy? Hard to know
She learns so much each day that helps her so
Why can I not each night and morning say
“I am so glad that she is glad today?”
Words of Sympathy:
Not, How Did He Die
Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man, as a man, regardless of his birth
Nor what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with words of good cheer
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say
But how many were sorry when he passed away?
Words of Sympathy:
Perhaps If We Could See
Perhaps if we could see
The splendour of the land
To which our loved are called
From you and me
We’d understand
Perhaps if we could hear
The welcome they receive
From old familiar voices
All so dear
We would not grieve
Perhaps if we could know
The reason why they went
We’d smile, and wipe away
The tears that flow
We’d wait content
Words of Sympathy:
Those Special Memories Of You
Those special memories of you
Will always bring a smile
If only I could have you back
For just a little while
Then we could sit and talk again
Just like we used to do
You always meant so very much
And always will do too
The fact that you’re no longer here
Will always cause me pain
But you’re forever in my heart
Until we meet again
Words of Sympathy:
Those We Love Don’t Go Away
Those we love don’t go away
They walk beside us every day
Unseen, unheard, but always near
Still loved, still missed and very dear
Words of Sympathy:
‘Tis Only We Who Grieve
‘Tis only we who grieve
They do not leave
They are not gone
They look upon us still
They walk among the valleys now
They stride upon the hill
Their smile is in the summer sky
Their grace is in the breeze
Their memories whisper in the grass
Their calm is in the trees
Their light is in the winter snow
Their tears are in the rain
Their merriment runs in the brook
Their laughter in the lane
Their gentleness is in the flowers
They sigh in autumn leaves
They do not leave
They are not gone
Tis only we who grieve
Words of Sympathy:
Were A Star Quenched On High
Were a star quenched on high
For ages would its light
Still travelling downwards from the sky
Shine on our mortal night
So, when a good man dies
For years beyond our ken
The light he leaves behind him
Shines upon the paths of men
Words of Sympathy:
When I Am Gone, Release Me
When I am gone, release me, let me go
We have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that we had these precious years
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness
I thank you for the love you each have shown
But now it’s time I travelled on alone
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
It’s only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart
I won’t be far away, for life goes on
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can’t see me or touch me, I’ll be near
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you, soft and clear
And then, when you must come this way alone
I’ll greet you with a smile and say ‘Welcome home’
Words of Sympathy:
When I Must Leave You For A While
When I must leave you for a while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile
And for my name sake and in my name
Live on and do all things the same
Feed not your loneliness on empty days
But fill each waking hour in useful ways
Reach out your hand in comfort and hold me dear
And I will in turn comfort you and hold you near
And never, never be afraid to die
For I am waiting for you in the sky
Words of Sympathy:
You Never Said “I’m Leaving”
You never said “I’m leaving”
You never said “Goodbye”
You were gone before I knew it
And only God knew why
A million times I needed you
A million times I cried
If love alone could save you
You never would have died
In life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still
In my heart you hold a place
That no one could ever fill
It broke my heart to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of me went with you
The day God took you home
Words of Sympathy:
You Shared Life With Us
You shared life with us
God give eternal life to you
You gave your love to us
God give His deep love to you
You gave your time to us
God give His eternity to you
You gave your Light to us
God give everlasting Light to you
Go upon your journey dear Soul
To Love, Light and life Eternal
Words of Sympathy:
You Touched My Life
You touched my life
And turned my heart around
It seems when I found you
It was me I really found
You opened my eyes
And now my Soul can see
Our moments may be over
Of just you here with me
Love lives on beyond goodbye
The truth of us will never die
Our Spirits will shine
Long after we’ve gone
And so our love lives on
There was so much
I didn’t understand
When you brought me here
Far from where we all began
The changes you made
To my life will never end
I’ll look across the distance
And know I have a friend
Love lives on beyond goodbye
The truth of us will never die
Our Spirits will shine
Long after we’ve gone
And so our love lives on
And so our love lives on
