~Hayes' 21st Birthday~

"You Raise Me Up"

Hayes’ 21st Birthday
March 14, 2006

From the day that you were born, Hayes,
I was so proud of you,
And I always liked to look ahead
And think what you might do.

And you fulfilled so many dreams
By the person you became,
Even at only sixteen years old,
You had achieved some fame.

But accidental death came in
And took you far too soon,
And all our hopes were turned to tears,
The music out of tune.

Today you should be twenty-one,
In college, almost grown,
You’d be a man if Death had not
Claimed you for its own.

So now today is bittersweet,
For you cannot be here,
And we can give you nothing but
Our love and all our tears.

I hope you celebrate this day
In heaven up above,
I hope it is a day of joy and
One that’s filled with love.

How much we long to see you, Hayes!
But this one thing is true,
We never will forget you, son,
And always we’ll love you!

Happy 21st Birthday in Heaven, Hayes!

Written for Beth, Scott, and Bethany with love,
Saralyn McAfee Smith
March 14, 2006