Losing a father is a profound experience, and finding the right words to honor him can be challenging. A heartfelt reading can offer comfort, celebrate his life, and reflect the love and guidance he provided. Here are ten non-religious readings that can help pay tribute to a beloved father, offering inspiration and solace during this difficult time.
1. “He Is Gone” by David Harkins
You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
This poem reflects on the choice between mourning a loss and celebrating a life lived with love.
2. “The Measure of a Man” by Unknown
Not – how did he die?
But – how did he live?
Not – what did he gain?
But – what did he give?
These are the units
To measure the worth
Of a man as a man,
Regardless of birth.
This reading emphasizes that a man’s worth is measured by his love, generosity, and impact on others.
3. “To Those Whom I Love and Those Who Love Me” by Unknown
When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many years.
A tender reminder to focus on the good memories and the happiness shared during life.
4. “A Life Well Lived” by Unknown
A life well lived is a legacy
Of joy and pride and pleasure,
A living, lasting memory
Our grateful hearts will treasure.
This verse honors a father’s life, reflecting on the love and pride his family feels.
5. “Afterglow” by Helen Lowrie Marshall
I’d like the memory of me
To be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow
Of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
Whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright and sunny days.
This poem reflects the wish to be remembered with joy, leaving behind fond memories.
6. “Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
And the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better,
Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
Or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier
Because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
Emerson’s words reflect a life of quiet success, measured by kindness and making a difference.
7. “If” by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.
This excerpt encourages strength, integrity, and wisdom, qualities often admired in fathers.
8. “A Father’s Love” by Unknown
A father’s love is a quiet strength
That guides us through each day,
A gentle hand that leads us
Through life’s challenges and dismay.
His wisdom shapes our every step,
His kindness marks our way.
This short reading emphasizes the lasting influence a father has on his children through his love and guidance.
9. “Epitaph” by Merrit Malloy
When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.
This poem reflects a call to live on by sharing love and kindness with others.
10. “Gone From My Sight” by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
And starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
And I stand and watch her until at length
She hangs like a speck of white cloud
Just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
This beautiful metaphor describes the passing of life as a ship sailing away, emphasizing that death is a transition rather than an end.
