Prayer:

  There's another angel in heaven today, she's the one they all adored.
   There's another angel in heaven today, laughing and singing with Our Lord..

(part of a poem I wrote years ago for a family member) 

Gratitude:

  A young woman was laid to rest today in Lubbock.  She was only fifteen and she was the victim of a a terrible murder by a family friend.  She was missing for two and 1/2 weeks before her body was found.  She had been babysitting for the family and the father took her from the location she was babysitting his children and strangled her to death.  Her body was finally found in a remote area outside of town.  There was a prayer vigil held at the high school she attended last night  and the funeral was today.   There has been an outpouring of grief and sorrow from those who knew her and those who didn't.  She had a beautiful voice  and she was a member of the school choir. 
What is there to be thankful for?  The family will certainly think back on all the memories they have of her and be thankful for her short time on earth.  She left them much too soon.  The mother was quoted as saying "She is home" and now she is safe and singing for the Lord.