AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE

    INSTRUMENT OF PEACE

Where there is hatred, let me bring love

Where there is doubt, let me bring faith

Where there is falsehood, let me bring truth

Where there is pain, I’ll comfort you

Where there is silence, let me sing praise

Where there's despair, let me bring hope

Where there is blindness, let me bring sight

Where there is darkness, let me bring light

And with these words I speak

Grant that I may not so seek

To be heard but to hear

To be consoled but to console,

Not to be seen, but to see

To be loved but to love

For when we give love we will receive

When we forgive love, we’ll find reprieve

It is in dying we’ll be released

Make me an instrument of peace

With sincere desire we thank all those who have come to our rescue these past few days. There are times in life when a tragedy strikes that tears a hole so deep and so wide in the lining of our soul, that it becomes difficult to stand without the support of others. May we continue to lean on your friendships, your love and your faith, until we can regain our strength... our days are long and our nights are short; we pray that the beautiful memories of Tristin will sustain us through the most difficult days that lay ahead.

Tristin created a world that was filled with love and energy. His kind and gentle spirit emulated a brilliant and dazzling light that can never be extinguished. Tristin had the ability to magnify the power of one through his love, his kindness and his actions. His goodness rolled over the lives of others, much like the waves of the oceans and we all found that we became better people to have been in his presence. 

Tristin was a light and energy that touched the lives of everyone. As a family, we have chosen to celebrate his life through the precious memories of a magnificent son, brother, and friend.

We celebrate his laughter, 

his gentle hands, 

his kind words, 

his funny sense of humor, 

his competitive spirit, 

his physical strengths, 

and his perfect ability to love others without boundaries.     

It was a privilege to be in Tristin's presence. He had a magnetic charm that made people feel as if they were the most valuable person that ever lived and his gift came from a special place of genuine and pure love.

I believe that his spirit is here today to witness the abundance of love that he created in all of our lives and I dedicate these words to him.

             Our Son 

Tristin was the bundle of joy 

That God sent to a family on Earth

And they cherished his bright countenance

From the moment of his birth.

That little boy with the loving arms 

Wrapped so tightly around his dad, 

Adores his older sisters

And the mother that he has.

But fifteen years is not enough 

For a life that had just begun

And our empty arms are longing for 

The boy we called our son.

Life goes on, some people say,

But our wounds are slow to mend

And the only peace that fills our souls  

Are in the prayers that others send.

Today our tears are shed 

For Brian and Heidi's only son

And we may never truly understand 

The reason this was done. 

But, in the quiet mortal hours 

Tristin's spirit will fill the air,

And he will whisper gentle words of love 

To let you know he's there.

And you will feel his very presence

Surrounding you each day,

For God will bless you with the knowledge

That your boy is not away.

Now, the journey may seem difficult

But trust the Master's plan,

Because God sent down a little boy 

But He will give you back a man.

When one light is removed from a space, all the others must shine even brighter to make up for its absence.  By Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.