Grief: My Own Unwanted Journey - Part I

"No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye. You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why."  Author Unknown

How do you write about a lifetime of pain that has burned your soul for over 50 years?  How do you write as an adult about something that took place when you were just a child?  How do you let go of those kinds of memories?  I had an answer....write it down....Let it go!....Put it to bed.  So write I am doing.  On a bright, warm January 5th morning in South Florida in 1963 my life would be forever changed.  I did not know it at the time but what appeared to be a normal Saturday on El Prado would become the biggest nightmare of my family's life.  Christmas had been ten days earlier and I had gotten a turquoise Schwinn bike from Santa.  It was beautiful and I wanted to ride it.  My brother was playing in the backyard on a makeshift swing tied in the ficus tree.  As I mounted my bike I heard my brother shout for me to stay and play with him.....but I had too many miles to ride and the breeze was beckoning me.  I rode down my driveway into the street where all the neighborhood kids waited....on their new bikes.  We put a lot of miles on those bikes.  Later in the day I cut through my friend Carol's backyard to get to mine.  Coming into my yard I noticed something very wrong....my brother was no longer swinging in the tree....he was hanging....like they did on the westerns we watched so often.  I heard my mom cry out, saw a neighborhood boy at our backdoor....and ran...but not to my house...I ran back to Carol's house...I heard the ambulance sound, saw the firetrucks....saw Carol's dad walk my dad down to his house.....and tried to hide in the bushes to escape what was happening.  That has always been my M.O.  When I could not deal with something....I would flee.  My dad came home from the hospital, took a power saw and cut down every ficus in our yard.  The next few hours were so confusing for me.  I did not understand why Dougie did not come home from the hospital with my parents.  I did not understand why they cried so....or sat in stoney silence.  I just knew whatever was wrong it was my fault.  I know they meant well....but, people came up and said over and over...."I know how you feel."  Did they?  Someone came during the evening and took me away from my parents to spend the night with them. I know they meant well....but it was not what I needed.  I needed to grieve with my parents....instead I wondered what was happening away from them.  There was a visitation in Florida at Mizell Favell Zern funeral home.  We, the family, we closed off in a partitioned room....but I could hear.  I could hear the people on the other side of that partition crying....no crying is not a strong enough word....they were wailing.  My mom was silent.  The next day my brother's body was shipped to Alabama for burial and we drove the 600 miles to be with more family.  The viewing in Alabama was at Radney Funeral Home.  I remember the viewing.  My Aunt MaeBelle made me touch my brother and kiss his cheek.  I did not want to....and wish I hadn't.  He was cold....icy cold.  Again we were in a special place....and again I could hear the wailing of the people there.  I was sick and really angry with God.  God was punishing me.  This was all my fault. I should have stayed and played with him.  I should have never left him.  I should have's ran rampant through my head.  I looked over at my dad and saw a broken shell of a man.  I looked at my mom and saw stoic. We buried Dougie at Hillview, stayed a few more days, and then we returned home.  We returned home a remnant.  Casseroles and cakes came.  We ate very little.  My mom even less.  She spent her days sitting at the dining room table staring out the window, smoking cigarettes and playing Solitaire.  She was there when I got up and she was there when I went to bed.  Life went on....but my  mom did not.

An Amish Cradle

About The Book: 
In the Father's Arms by Beth Wiseman-Ruth Anne Zook is excited that she and her best friend are due with their children the same week. But when Ruth Anne's baby is born with Down Syndrome, she and her husband struggle to understand God's plan.

A Son for Always by Amy Clipston
Carolyn and her husband Joshua are thrilled to be pregnant with their first child. A teenager when she had her son Benjamin, Carolyn still feels obligated to work to secure Ben's future, even though Josh adopted Ben. She struggles to realize that Josh will love and protect both of their children equally.

A Heart Full of Love by Kathleen Fuller
Ellie's mother loves to meddle in her personal life-especially now that Ellie's pregnant. Since Ellie is blind, her mother worries that she won't be able to handle the baby. When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother insists on moving in. Just as everyone reaches the breaking point, a miracle draws them closer to each other and to God.

An Unexpected Blessing by Vannetta Chapman
At 42, Etta thought her time of having children was over, but she's pregnant again. She goes into labor during a blizzard, and complications with the delivery raise fear. Etta struggles to accept Gotte's wille for the baby and her son, David, who moved away two years earlier in search of what he would do with his life.


About The Authors: 
BethWiseman - is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series—Seek Me With All Your Heart—was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published twelve novels and nine novellas to date.
Amy Clipston - has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks
Kathleen Fuller - was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and currently live in Geneva, Ohio. She's been married to James for 21 wonderful years (really, they have been wonderful!) They have three terrific children, three dogs, and have raised cattle, pigs, and chickens at various times over the years. They would have gone into the goat business, but she had to draw the line somewhere. She  started writing in 2000, and published her first short story a year later. Since then she have authored several short stories, novellas, novels, and have done a lot of freelance non-fiction work. She has also worked as an editor. She has a Masters degree in Special Education, emphasis on teaching the blind and visually impaired, and a Bachelors in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She has  taught all age groups ranging from age 4 to age 21. A few of her favorite things: her relationship with Christ, chocolate (of course!), autumn, a satisfying book, good friends, a sense of humor, people who don't take themselves seriously, haunting melodies, NFL football, and did she mention chocolate?
Vanetta Chapman - holds a BA and MA degree in English, and is proud to be represented by Mary Sue Seymour, AAR. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, and has received over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She is honored to be a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Faith Hope and Love.  She lives and teaches in the Texas hill country with her husband, cats, and a rather large herd of deer. Their four children have flown the nest; however, they are fortunate that they all live close enough to visit.  Her grandfather was born in Albion, Pennsylvania, and she is currently researching whether she might have Amish roots.
My Thoughts On The Book:  This book was perfect.  Four of my favorite writers under one cover.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  Beth Wiseman's book, In The Father's Arms, really hit home as a grandmother with two Down's children.  This book was a bit different because after the birth of the baby Ruth Anne and her husband really struggle and question God through their friendships, their marriage, and their family.  This is a sweet read as they find their way back to each other. Amy Clipston's novella, A Son For Always, was a wonderfully tender story of a blended family struggling to become one.  Carolyn and Joshua came alive on the page and could have composed any blended family.  Loved God's revealing moment.  It made the whole story worth the read.   Kathleen Fuller's story, A Heart Full of Love,  angered me a good bit.  I felt so helpless for Ellie as she struggled with the responsibility of new motherhood....as a blind mother.  It angered me how her family treated her and I could not put the story down until I knew the outcome.  The final story was by Vanetta Chapman.  Her,  An Unexpected Blessing, and I struggled a bit trying to get into the story and keep focused.  It was the slowest of all four but after plugging on it turned out to be rather delightful.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NetGalley Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishing Company as part of their Book Review Blogger Programs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! 
 

Grief: A Mama's Unwanted Journey

About The Book: Grief: A Mama’s Unwanted Journey is the book you want no one to need yet know at some point in life, everyone will. It is for those walking through the searing pain of grief and also for those walking arm-in-arm with a loved one along grief's tumultuous journey. Shelley Ramsey knows this pain well. Eleven years ago Ramsey’s oldest son Joseph died in a single-vehicle accident. Shelley chronicled her deeply personal reflections and arduous journey through grief in Grief: A Mama’s Unwanted Journey.
"Great grief is a ferocious fire. It can be a destroying or a refining fire-or both at once. This book combines searing honesty with wisdom and consolation. Most importantly, it offers realistic hope that while grief and suffering are real words-about the lost one and those who have lost-they do not have to be the defining or final words. That final word is love, something that even suffering does not erase." -Daniel Taylor, author of The Skeptical Believer  "'We cannot walk out of the cemetery and into life as we knew it. We must take time to grieve.' So says my friend Shelley, who knows the path to her son's grave well. If you are tired of platitudes, tired of the trite but untrue, this book is for you, as real and raw as it gets. Grieving moms, walk with her, learn from her successes and her mistakes, and hold her hand on the unwanted journey in the storm-tossed life-boat of grief. She will guide you safely back to sanity's shore." -Dane Skelton, pastor of Faith Community Church and author of Jungle Flight: Spiritual Adventures at the Ends of the Earth  

About The Author:  Shelley Ramsey lost her seventeen year old son in a single-vehicle car accident. She chronicles her deeply personal reflections and her arduous journey through grief in “Grief: A Mama’s Unwanted Journey.” Shelley and Phil have been married over thirty years and live in Virginia. In addition to Joseph, they are the adoring parents of adult sons, Curt and Wyatt.

http://www.shelleyramsey.com

Articles:

Holidays and Bereavement After the Loss of a Child, 08 Nov 2013

Child-Loss Journey is Easier When Sharing with Others, 11 Oct 2013

My Thoughts On The Book:  This was by far the most difficult book I have ever read.  My heart broke for the family from the very beginning of the story and hurt for them all the way up until the end.   I can only imagine the struggle Shelley Ramsey had writing it.  It was a soul bearing story and she held nothing back.  This is probably the hardest review I have ever written.  I do NOT know what it is like to lose my seventeen year old son, but I felt my own soul reaching out to Curt and Wyatt because I too am the surviving sibling of a tragedy like this.  Our walk is different than that of the parent's walk....but it is still a walk we took.....and our lives too were changed in the blink of an eye.  Ramsey addresses each member of her family, their personal grief and how they "cope."  This book helped me an adult surviving sibling to understand what happened to my mom the day our family fractured.  The book contained a lot of "do's" and "do not's" for those on the outside of the death.  It was tender, raw, emotional, and I found myself having to put the book down and leave it when it hit way to close to home.  As a pastor, this book would be a wonderful healing and counseling tool for someone experiencing such a loss and wondering, "Where is God?"  I would highly recommend it.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  
 

Why Bethlehem?

My Scripture text today is from Matthew 2:1-12

A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg who many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies." The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "You know that we do not admit Jews. Now if you will try the other side of town..." Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeable and said, "I’ll have you know I converted to your religion." The desk clerk said, "Oh, yeah, let me give you a little test. How was Jesus born?" Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a little town called Bethlehem." "Very good," replied the hotel clerk. "Tell me more." Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born in a manger." "That’s right," said the hotel clerk. "And why was he born in a manger?" Mrs. Rosenberg said loudly, "Because a jerk like you in the hotel wouldn’t give a Jewish lady a room for the night!"

We know the story of Bethlehem, and what happened there. But, of all the cities, towns and villages in Palestine why did the Lord God choose such an unheard-of hamlet as Bethlehem for the birth of the greatest figure ever to enter into human history? If a site selection committee had been appointed, the name of Bethlehem probably would have never made the list. There are all kinds of important reasons to favor another location.  The city of Hebron, for example, played an important role in the beginning of Hebrew history. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and later David were associated with Hebron. On the other hand, Jerusalem is an even more logical choice. Six hundred eleven times the city is mentioned in the Old Testament. For centuries, from the day David captured it from the Jebusites to make it his city, Jerusalem was the center of religious and civil life in Israel. The magnificent temple of Solomon was there. The royal palace too. Our site selection committee would be hard pressed to find reasons to deny Jerusalem the privilege of welcoming the new king. But Jerusalem fails to make the cut.

There was always Nazareth, too. This is a logical favorite because it was the home of Mary and Joseph. It offered the most in convenience. Life could go on as usual for Joseph, Mary and Jesus surrounded by relatives and good neighbors. No interruption in the daily flow of activity.

So why Bethlehem? By the ancient Prophet’s own words Bethlehem "was small among the clans of Judah" (Micah 5:2 NIV). For whatever the reasons, Bethlehem never rose to a position of prominence in its entire history. Two events stand out in its history, though. It was here that Israel’s great and ideal king, poet, and hero, King David, was born and grew up. Before that, a most beautiful love story, the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz in the Book of Ruth, took place.

But for the most part, people came and went in Bethlehem with no sense of destiny for many years. This notion of obscurity is captured by a verse from one of the favorite songs sung during the Christmas season…

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above the deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.

Bethlehem’s beginning dates back into the dim past of history. It had lain still in a "deep and dreamless sleep" for nearly two thousand years before shepherds came to seek a babe lying in a manger or Magi from the east were led by a star and bowed to the new king. Why wake it now? Well, let’s look at the name itself. Bethlehem is a Hebrew word. The name literally means, “house of bread.” And I think this is significant in 3 ways.

1) Christ was born in Bethlehem, "the house of bread", to identify with the common man. Jesus was not born in the house of royalty, nor the house of riches, nor the house of celebrity. Jesus was not born in Jerusalem, or in Rome, or in Athens, or in Alexandria.  Jesus was not born in any political, commercial, cultural, educational, or socially significant city of the day. When Micah, the Old Testament prophet, foretold the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he emphasized its lack of significance to the world. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " (Micah 5:2)  Bethlehem - "The House of Bread". Bread is one of life’s most common things. God wanted His Son available to all. His birth was announced to shepherds, the common man, but not to King Herod. His cradle was a manger, an animal’s feeding trough in a lowly stable. You don’t have to be rich to know Him. You don’t have to be well-known or popular to know Him. Just be you. Jesus came not for the religious, for the ones who thought they were alright, but for the ones who were aware of their needs. 2) Christ was born in Bethlehem to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Jesus said, " I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)  Bread is a good comparison to our Lord because He satisfies, gratifies and strengthens us spiritually just as bread does physically. Many are eating at the wrong table. Isaiah 55:2 says, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”  It is easy to get caught up in searching for meaning in life from the wrong things because there are a lot of things that bring temporary happiness. But only Christ satisfies the eternal dimension of the human spirit. Christ is all the soul of man needs for spiritual satisfaction. That fact that Jesus was born in "The House of Bread" gives us confidence that God does indeed want to choose us to be His children, no matter how insignificant we may seem to ourselves or to the world around us.

And lastly, 3) Christ was born in Bethlehem to show us that each of us must choose him as Savior for ourselves. If one person eats a meal, it doesn’t satisfy any other person’s hunger.  The Bible says that "we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Cor. 1:17) That "one bread" is Christ. He is the only bread that offers life and the decision to receive Him is an individual one. And He invites each of us to partake of His presence today. 

Time For Children

Good morning! And Happy New Year to you!

How many of you have ever looked up at the sky at night and seen stars?  They are beautiful, aren't they?  Sometimes there are lots and lots of stars, and other times not so many.  It depends on how cloudy the sky is and how many lights are on the ground where you are.   People in cities don't see as many stars as folks out in the country.  But on a clear night, almost everyone can see the North Star.  In fact, the North Star has been used by sailors to help them steer their ships in the direction they want to go.

There are scientists, called astronomers, who study the stars.  There have been astronomers for thousands of years--people have always been interested in studying the stars.  At the time Jesus was born, there were astronomers living far away from Bethlehem, studying the stars.  One night they were looking up at the night sky when they noticed something surprising--something they had never seen before.  It was a new star!  How amazing! 

These ancient astronomers believed that new stars didn't just show up for no reason.  They believed the new star they saw meant something important was happening in the world, so they decided to follow it.  They packed for a long journey across the desert sands.  They traveled for days and weeks and months, using the star to guide them.  Finally, the star stopped over a house in Bethlehem.  The men who had traveled so far for so long were filled with joy.  When they entered the house, they found Jesus with Mary, his mother  The astronomers knew the baby was someone special--someone to be honored.  And so they immediately knelt down and worshipped him.  Then they opened the treasure chests they had packed and offered Jesus precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Sometimes the astronomers who followed the star to Jesus are called Wise Men.  Some may think they were wise because they were scientists who understood about the stars.  I think they were wise because they knew to worship Jesus the minute they saw him.  They understood that he was no ordinary child, but was someone special sent by God to lead the people, like a king.

Let's pray together.

Dear God, thank-you for sending the star to lead the wise astronomers to Jesus.  Thank-you for sending Jesus into the world to lead all the people.  Help us to be wise and follow Jesus where He leads.  Amen.

 

 

 

Hope Crossing

About The Book:  Hope Crossing is the complete Ada's House Trilogy and includes all three books in the series. The three books included are The Hope of Refuge, The Bridge of Peace and The Harvest of Grace.
The first book, The Hope of Refuge is about Ephraim and Clara. Clara has lived a hard life, after her mother died and her father abandoned her she grew up in foster homes. Now she has a little girl named Lori and they are running from a stalker who has been tormenting Clara for years. Clara ends up in Amish country after finding a clue from her mother and it is there that she meets Ephraim for the first time....or is it?
The second book, The Bridge of Peace continues on with the same characters but now the main characters are Lena and Grey. Lena is a school teacher and at 27 years old she is sure that she is to live her life alone. With a huge birthmark on her face she knows that her looks turn everyone away. She is happy with her life as a teacher, but now her job is being threatened and Grey is the only person who will stand up for her. Grey is dealing with some personal tragedies of his own and only wants friendship from Lena. What happens to the two loners?
The third book, The Harvest of Grace completes the stories of the previous books, but the main focus is now on Sylvia and Aaron who both have different goals in life and their struggle of trying to come together.
About The Author:  Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the one of the top three most popular authors of Amish fiction.  She's won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer's Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings' Best Books of the Year. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.  Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn't realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn't allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy's house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them--afraid that if they didn't, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann's because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults' disapproval and the obstacles in each other's lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy's family moved to another region of the US.  As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities--from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.  Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.  If you'd like more information or to contact her, you can go to her website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall 
My Thoughts On The Book: Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish fiction writers.  This book is no exception.  I loved it.   Hope Crossing is a great trilogy that allows the reader to experience a real look at the Amish way of life.   Each story, each character makes the reader feel as if they are part of  the story as it begins to unfold before them.  This book can have you smiling one minute and have your heart breaking the next.  The mark of a good writer is one that can draw you in to their story line with ease and Woodsmall is a master at that technique. 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging for Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! 

Auld Lang Syne

One of my favorite starts to the New Year is the song Auld Lang Syne.  It is the traditional song for ringing in the New Year in almost every English speaking country in the world. This New Year Song is generally credited to Robert Burns, but earlier versions of this ballad precede his time. Burns combined a common Scottish folk song with his own lyrics to arrive at the version commonly sung on New Year's Eve. What is the meaning of this New Year's Eve Song? Auld Lang Syne is about old friends who have parted and meet again. To celebrate their long friendship, they share a drink together and reminisce of memories from long ago. The basic message is that we should not forget our old friends and should celebrate a reunion with them. When the clock strikes midnite on New Year's Eve, gather everyone together at your party or celebration to sing the New Years Song and remember the good memories of family and friends from long ago. So tonight I am wishing all my family and friends a truly Auld Lang Syne.  I hope you feel me singing it in your heart....no matter where you might be tonight when the clock strikes midnight.  Happy New Year.          Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne? Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne! We twa hae run about the braes, And pu'd the gowans fine, But we've wander'd mony a weary fit Sin auld lang syne. We twa hae paidl't in the burn Frae morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin auld lang syne. And there's a hand, my trusty fiere, And gie's a hand o' thine, And we'll tak a right guid willie-waught For auld lang syne! And surely ye'll be your pint' stowp, And surely I'll be mine, And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne!