Beginnings and Endings

This poem was written for the program for the memorial service for my sister, Nola Ailene White who passed away February 11, 2014. Nola was the oldest of my siblings and was always like a second mother to me. I was the youngest of 4 and her children were near my own age and I thought of them more like a brother and sisters than nephew and nieces. Nola has been in declining health for a few years now and it was really a blessing for her to be relieved of her suffering. She has not been very happy since she lost her husband, Floyd, in 2006 and I know that she is happy now.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
17 February 2014

Beginnings and Endings

Bright flowers color spring time and gold leaves announce the fall.
A baby lightens every heart, our Heavenly Father made them all.

We come into the world an infant, our life spread at our feet.
Our life is blessed by things we do and everyone we meet.

We toil along life’s winding road as we travel far and wide.
We make our way through ups and downs and dry the tears we’ve cried.

Children bless us along the way and we give to them our hearts.
While loved ones sometimes pass away, as one life dies another starts.

And so it is as we travel on as night turns into day.
As to the spring soon comes the fall, we are born and will pass away.

There is a plan that life must follow and we will play our part.
In sorrow we know that life must end but we knew it from the start.

We start our lives with hopes so high but then our eyes must dim.
Our Father waits with open arms for us to return to Him.

We dry our tears and start again, the sunshine lights the day.
It isn’t how long we walk on the road, it’s the fun we have on the way.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
12 February 2014