There lived a woman
A selfless life
Who cared for so many
Though never a wife

Her heart was so full
For family she cared
Generous with her time
And her love she did share

And those who knew
Of this sweet special one
Are blessed to have known her
She was second to none

Though never to marry
No children of her own
Her house was always full
She was never alone

She gave of her life
For the children she cared
She talked with them, sat with them,
Mac and cheese she prepared

I recently asked her
Of memories she had
From her days as a child
The good and the bad

She laughed as she told
Of getting in trouble
For eating a pound
Of her mother's cold butter

And how she would play
In the grass and the trees
They were her 'jungle'
She'd run in the breeze

She learned how to garden
And plant from her Pop
She helped him to water
Ate veggies as she stopped

Best dressed she was voted
What a stylish gal
Get home and change clothes though
Because they were Val's!

She played 'Kick the Can'
And the can hit her lip
It bled and it bled
She came home and she dripped

Used all the clean laundry
In a basket she found
Her mom was not happy
To find this on the ground!

She once was so stubborn
Didn't want to eat a roll
She folded her arms and
Stood out in the cold

A neighbor who saw
Invited her in
Gave her a cookie
Sent her home again

She happily returned
And sat down, took her seat
Her mother was shocked
Where she'd got such a treat!

She told how they didn't
Have blankets on beds
To keep warm in the cold
Piled coats on instead

No Christmas presents to open
Once a donated tree
They'd sneak and eat ornaments
They were gingerbread cookies

She told how her childhood
Was wonderful and full
She had many memories
She could rapidly recall

Of all of the sisters
I'm told she had most
Of boyfriends and bachelors
On horseback they'd boast

And she'd chuckle and say
It was a great life she had
So much to be thankful for
So much to be glad

She did not complain
As she finished this life
But bravely accepted
The suffer, the strife

But when her eyes closed
On this side of earth
They opened eternal
Complete joy, complete mirth

Jesus was reaching
To usher her in
To welcome her home
Eternity to begin

For if she believed
And she trusted in Him
He says those believing
He will save from all sin

So though we will miss
This dear precious one
Her new life eternal
Has only begun!

"He that heareth my word
And believeth on Him that sent me,
Hath everlasting life,
And shall not come into condemnation,
But is passed from death unto life."
John 5:24