As God’s children, we create our lives by making daily choices. The Bible states that we are more than God’s creatures. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works. We are like masterpieces. Our sorrow, longings, hopes, and joy add the color to the free verse of our lives.

In II Corinthians 3:3, Paul shows God’s will for us when he describes our lives as “living letters.” As living letters, parables, or stories, our lives are meant to be listened to. Jesus showed us how God used the experiences of people when he taught using the common everyday lives of fishermen, farmers, and widows. Lives are living letters that, when listened to, can move the hearts of masses.

(Name of deceased)’s life is one of God’s masterpieces. He/she is one of God’s poems—a living letter.

We gather here today because we are the lines and verses of his/her poem. Our own stories would be incomplete without recognizing his/her presence. In the same way, his/her poem would not have the same fullness if any of us had not been part of it.

Will you who are his/her co-workers, you with whom he/she has spent his/her daily life, please stand? You have encouraged him/her and were rewarded by his/her gift of laughter and presence. Many verses of his/her poem were added due to your exchanging of life stories. Please remain standing. Thank you.

Will his/her church family please rise? You have been the music to which his/her poem has been set. It’s the song of faith that he/she has chosen to sing. You have prayed for each other and spiritually held him/her during times of despair and great need. Thank you.

Will his/her neighbors and friends please stand? You have added the rhythm and rhyme to the verse of his/her life. The cadence flows of his/her love of people, good times, and memory-making moments. The sun has risen and set on the hours you shared. Thank you.

Will the nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles please stand? Your family stories throughout his/her life have punctuated his/her memories. He/she trusted others because of the caring foundation you offered of love, care, and loyalty. Thank you.

Will the grandchildren please stand? You have added sparkling, bright wording to your grandfather’s/grandmother’s life poem. He/she had a different way of looking at the world after you entered it. All days spent with you took him/her into reflection. What joy you gave. Thank you.

Name the brothers and sisters. The childhood pranks, arguments, shared secrets, skinned knees, and laughter wrote verses in primary colors to his/her life that only siblings can create. Think of just one of those moments now and please stand (with your spouses and families).

Name the children, spouse, and ex-spouses—if present and appropriate. As his/her family you became his/her purpose, focus, and joy. As his/her children, you opened his/her eyes and he/she learned unconditional love and sacrifice. (Spouse name) your influence has added tones of depth that sound through his/her poem into eternity. Please stand (with your spouses). Thank you.

Name the parents. (Name of deceased)’s poem began with you, his/her parents. You gave birth and nurtured (name’s) life. As his/her safe place in the world, you have remained his/her foundation and anchor. Please stand. Thank you.

Look around you. See who is here. Pause for about twenty seconds. You are the lines and verses (name) chose to write with his/her days. You are his/her community. You are his/her life story as it is now written in the records of heaven. If (name) could speak to you today, he/she would say, “Thank you for my life.”