Michael F Ryan - May 27, 1959 - April 13, 2003

Michael's Memorial

I would first like to say to my parents -
In the struggle with your loss you may sometimes feel as though you are completely alone; yet God is certainly
present in your life. God has not stopped loving you, and neither has God stopped loving Michael.

The loss of a loved one is probably the most difficult time in life. Grief is never comfortable for any of us and sometimes it can be unbearable.

We know two things today.
Michael is now in heaven and also that we will see him again.
Michael embraced the Lord while he was alive, now God has embraced him.

"Oh God our Father, Creator of us all, giver and preserver of all life:
We confess to you our slowness to accept death as part of your plan for life.
We confess our reluctance to commit to you those whom we love.
Restore our faith that we may come to trust in your care and providence, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

So today we come together to celebrate the life and share the loss of Michael.
We come together in grief, and we acknowledge our human loss.
May God grant us grace, that in pain we will find comfort, in sorrow hope, and in death resurrection.

Before Michael was ours, he was yours.
For all that Michael has given to us to make us what we are, for that part of him which lives and grows in each of us,
and for his life that in your love will never end, we give thanks. We now know Michael is back in your arms, comfort us in our loneliness,
strengthen us in our weakness, and give us courage to face the future unafraid. ---- Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,
make us faithful to serve one another, and help us to know your peace and joy, which is eternal life in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The love and concern for family and friends that Michael gave so freely - came back to him in many ways and many times over again.
Michael has Christ love -- Michael had Christ within him and it shown like a bright star on a clear night.
We all have great memories in our heart of Michael -- each a treasure we can draw upon when we need him closer.
He gave each of us a special place in his heart that was unconditional - a free love as a son, brother and a friend.

When death separates us from our family members and friends we are in special need of comfort.
When others come to our side and let us know they care they are God's messengers.

So as we share this day with Michael in our hearts, just imagine what it must it be like . . .
- "stepping on shore and finding it heaven
- of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God's hand
- of breathing in new air and finding it heaven's air
- of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality
- of passing from a storm and finding eternal calm
- of waking up in heaven and finding it to be HOME."

The bible says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

It is hard to rejoice but we should rejoice in our souls that Michael is in the presence of God.
He has gone to a place where there will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying.
Michael will never weep again, ever shed a single tear - he knows only joy and peace.
He has gone to a place where he can enjoy the true fulfillment and eternal joy in God's presence.

There is no need to erect a monument to Michael . . . God has already done that in heaven . . . The place He has prepared just for him!

We all know Michael is in Heaven right now. But still, we are left with the pain of his loss.
From our point of view, it's never a good time to lose a loved one.
But Michael would tell us now, "It's never a bad time to go to heaven."

And if he were here today to speak, he would tell us about heaven. He would tell us death is not the end -- it's the beginning.
It is the real life to be lived in total bliss in the arms of a loving God. He would tell us how much he truly loves us all.
And he would so sweetly tell his parents, who he loved so dearly, that he is ok now, he's home; for he has slipped from this world, into the tender arms of Jesus.

What Michael has gained by passing from this life to life-eternal is; "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

Along with comfort and rest, God offers each of us peace today -- because we are all
certain of one thing, right now, Michael wouldn't change a thing!

People often wonder what it's like to die . . .

" years ago, a wise Christian mother explained it best; Her son developed a fatal disease. The disease progressed rapidly.
At first he was unable to go to school. Then he was unable to go outside to play and finally confined to his bed.
One day the question his mother dreaded the most came. "Mommy, what's it like to die?"
Though she had prepared herself for that moment, she couldn't handle it when it came.
She left the room, and there in the bathroom she prayed for strength and wisdom.
She came back into the room she said, "Honey, remember when you were little and you would fall asleep in the car?
The next morning when you woke up you would be home in your own bed. Do you know how you got there?
Your father came and lifted you up and gently carried you to your own bed in your own room.
That is what it's like to die."

A couple weeks ago our Michael fell asleep.
When he did, the greatest arms in the universe slipped under him, gently lifted him up and carried him to a place that is safe and secure.
A place that is his very own, forever!
You see, Jesus made promises to us all . . . including Michael.

He said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Fathers' house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me, that you also may be where I am."

Jesus fulfilled that promise to Michael. And right now, Michael is experiencing Jesus the way he always dreamed of . . . face to face!

That's WHY the bible says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of one of His saints." It's not Michael's final sleep; it's his first real awakening.

So God fulfilled every promise He ever made to Michael. And, He will fulfill His promises to us too; comfort, rest, hope, strength, and peace.
God has given us all one more thing -- our memory of Michael
So, remember how happy he made you. But just as important, remember how happy you made him.

(Here is where we scatter Michael's ashes...continue with prayer...)

"In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Michael;
and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face
to shine upon him and be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen." Prayer . . . "Eternal God in heaven, we have prepared our hearts to give
Michael to you; for it has pleased you in your great mercy and love to receive the soul of Michael in the heaven eternal. We, as Michael's family
and friends, commit his earthly body to your safe keeping in the certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May you, our God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant, work in our hearts today what is pleasing to Christ; and to Christ
be the glory forever and ever. Amen"

Gregory Ryan, May 10th, 2003

All writings found here on this Website are Copyrighted and
can only be used by permission of the author(s)

Copyright © 2003 Gregory Ryan - All Rights Reserved