Paul Ralph Cerrato

IN  LOVING  MEMORY  OF

Paul Ralph Cerrato

September 21, 1976 — May 28, 2017

I’M  FREE

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now.  He set me free.

HEAVEN’S  SURPRISE

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

as I entered Heaven’s door.

Not by the beauty of it all

nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

who made me sputter and gasp –

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

the alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, “What’s the deal?

I would love to hear your take.

How’d all these sinners get up here?

God must’ve made a mistake.

And why’s everyone so quiet,

so somber – give me a clue.”

“Child,” He said, “They’re all in shock.

They never thought they’d be seeing you!”

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