When you are born, You arrive with almost nothing, Except for a body, a mind, a spirit, And

a soul. Everything else is bestowed upon you, Not given; For you are special, Not only in the eyes of God, But those who you are destined to be with As family. In time; You learn to do for yourself, Seeking answers, but also knowledge, And what you do with that knowledge is Your choice, Your free will, Bestowed upon you by God, Like life itself. The gifts you have been presented since birth, Are the gifts you must share as your life unfolds, Loving, Sharing, Teaching, Feeling, Living, And most importantly ..Faith. Your years are determined by the Number of gifts you have to share. Some, but a few, Though still very special in their own right, Then there are those with many, Remaining on this Earth What seems like several lifetimes, For theirs is a daunting task, But in the end, A rewarding one; Until the final sunset, Sends them on to their eternal resting place. So consider your own mortality, Your own gifts, Received and shared; And your own passing to the next life, Or wherever eternity leads you From this Earthly home. Your spirit will carry on, In those you have touched. Your soul will be transformed, Leaving your earth-bound shell behind, And what will remain, Shall be bestowed on yet another to be born, To begin agai n; The Passion of Life, And The Sharing of Faith. For such is the Gift of Faith, Bestowed upon us from the beginning, By our creator, and left as our own eternal gift,

To all we have touched in our lives, So lovingly, As our time in this life, Reaches it's peaceful end.