A Mother's Lullaby

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in the BYU-Hawaii Stake Center, there will be a memorial service for Amanda Gunter. All are invited. We have been told to wear bright, happy colors, as that is what she would've wanted.

Some music will be sung. Some of us friends had gathered together tonight to practice some music for the service tomorrow, and some of the songs we are singing are lullabies. These lullabies are Timothy Max's project/gift for Levin and Ansley, and the texts have been written by some members of the Concert Choir.

I think about 10 lullabies are ready to give to Levin's family for tomorrow, and two of them will be sung by our little choir. Both of them are absolutely beautiful, but one in particular keeps stopping me in my tracks. It's called, "This Song I Sing for You: A Mother's Lullaby," lyrics written by our dear friend, April (Fisher) Alexander. The words are so simple and so basic, but I can't help but feel sad knowing that this is a love song from mother to daughter, and Amanda will never be able to sing this song for Ansley on this Earth. As a mother, that pains me. I can't imagine not being able to sing for Meliame again. Just knowing that the opportunity to physically share my love for my children with them has been taken... I know it wouldn't hurt my children nearly as much as it would me, but it's a sad thing. And I only pray that Levin as a father will be strong through this tough time, and that they will always remember Amanda's love for them.

Ugh, I can't stop crying, even as I'm writing this! Anyway, here are the lyrics to this lullaby (thanks, April):

1. A day like this, I'll give to you,
Of golden sun and morning dew,
Of passing clouds and sunsets too,
A day like this, I'll give to you.

2. A night like this I'll give to you,
Of silver moon and stars so true,
Of quiet winds and stillness thru,
A night like this I'll give to you.

3. A song like this I'll sing to you,
When golden sun and stars so true
Sing my heart and love to you,
A song like this I'll sing to you.

Death is never an easy thing for the living to cope with. No matter how often it passes in our lives, it will always affect us. Shake us. Remind us of who we really are. And what our lives are really about. Death teaches us lessons, and each life taken from us is a new lesson learned. I learned to cherish the moments I have with Siope and Meliame, to always show people how much I love them, and to enjoy life, every minute of it.

If anyone who knew Amanda and Levin are reading this, please come to the memorial tomorrow (or today, depending on when you read this). If you can't make it, please keep the Gunter Family (and Amanda's family, though I don't know her maiden name) in your prayers.