"Your Sweet Angel"
Twenty two years ago today, I was awakened by a very early morning phone call informing me that my 51- year-old sister, who suffered from Lupus and Scleraderma, had a cardiac arrest while undergoing outpatient surgery. I wrote this poem, "Your Sweet Angel", for my mother for Christmas in 1996 in memory of her.
YOUR SWEET ANGEL
God sent you an angel
So pure and so fair.
You named her Sheryll Jean.
She had blonde curly hair.
Your beautiful daughter
You watched as she grew.
She was happy and loving,
And talented, too.
She twirled baton, played piano,
Was a cheerleader, it's true.
And in addition to that,
A trumpet she blew.
At her high school graduation
Tears of pride filled your eyes
As you watched her receive
That much cherished prize.
The inevitable had happened--
Your little angel had grown
Into a blossoming young woman
With dreams all her own.
You cried as you left her
In Nebraska that day.
To study nursing was all that
She wanted, she'd say.
She married Jim Owens,
Her love through the years.
She was a beautiful bride,
And you smiled through your tears.
A wonderful mother
Of three she became.
She loved them all dearly--
Jim, Jeff, and Shari their names.
As her children grew older,
She blossomed some more.
Making crafts and sewing
Most of the clothing they wore.
Then for some unknown reason
She became seriously ill,
But she fought for her life
With her faith and strong will.
So, God allowed her to stay
Here on this earthly plane.
Where she suffered in silence
And smiled through her pain.
For fifty-one years
You were blessed with her love.
Then God decided He needed her
To come Home up above.
So while she lay sleeping
Alone in her bed,
An Angel appeared
Before her and said,
"Sheryll, your trials are over.
Your suffering is through.
Come Home with me now."
And to Heaven they flew.
Your beautiful angel
Is now happy and free.
She has no more pain,
And she plays joyfully.
If it's quiet and peaceful
And your heart's listening,
You can hear her accompany
Angel choirs as they sing.
She sits at Heaven's organ
And smiles as she plays.
For she knows that she'll see you
Again one of these days.
Recent Comments
41
That is beautiful Carol. I know you must miss your sister and your mother so much.
Hugs,
Jessica
Thanks, Jessica. Yes, I do. I dreamed about Mom last night. It was so realistic that at first I forgot that she was gone. I dreamed she was using my little tack hammer to pound nails in my deck! Actually went to look and see what the noise was! Weired!
I used to have dreams about Dad all the time after we lost him. They were very, very real and I still remember them several years later. Of course I have always had vivid dreams at times and still remember many from when I was a kid!
It seemed like he was there in those dreams though. Or maybe it was just my brain playing out what I knew he would say and do to comfort me. Mom wanted reports of my dreams since she wanted any reassurance also and she was glad I seemed to have that connection.
I don't remember my dreams very often, but this one was so real I got up and looked out the door before I remembered that Mom is gone.
You make the hairs on my arms stand up, that’s a really nice poem Carol.
Not many words in response to that, very Beautiful!
Your Friend Waynegel!
(You know it’s me Wayne. I had best friends who asked me to be best man for their wedding and always called me Waynegel!?)
Thanks, Wayneegel! That really means a lot to me. I was unhappy with the formatting of the post. Couldn't figure out how to make it single space. Was supposed to be single spaced and double spaced between verses, but guess the message got across anyway. And I wanted it centered in the page. It wouldn't do that, either. Oh well.
It came across beautifully and such a wonderful share!
Sometimes formatting doesn’t matter! What do they say here - Quality Content!
Take care
Wayne
Nothing wrong with perfectionism and attention to detail!
I think the words you wrote just outshone the nitty gritty detail which aren’t relevant in this case today.
You shared something very wonderful, more inspiring!
Wayne
Thanks, Wayne. That means a lot. It doesn't seem possible that Sheryll has been gone for 22 years!
Isn’t it amazing how we find the strength to carry on? We have the memories. You have the memories of Sheryll.
I had to come to terms with people passing a couple of months back, in December, even my mother is on this path. Actually very shocking and so sad.
I came to terms that these things have to happen. Still so saddening.
Five years ago I had the stroke and last year I’d been give two or three days to live with ketoacidosis and told my travelling days were over. They said I was going into a coma, I didn’t!
Of course I listen more to my own body than what doctors tell me. They said I wasn’t fit enough to travel.
I left the UK with little vision but then made a huge recovery!
I don’t have the same fears of losing someone that I love the way I used to. We just got to love the ones we love whilst we are here.
Anyway, I’m feeling sickly today and reflected a little. Time for nap I think.
Enjoy your day with your fond memories Carol.
Wayne
Thanks, Wayne. Sorry to hear about your stroke and ketoacidosis. Hope you'll be feeling better tomorrow. I agree. I don't have the same fears of losing people I love since I've lost 2 very close to me in 2017. It's part of the cycle of life, but that doesn't mean we like it when the cycle comes full circle! Take care, my friend. Carol
I sympathize with you it is very hard to loose a sibling and I know it is even harder on your parents. You have done a great job with this poem I can fell your intentions for your mother and your own heart.
Thank you. That means a lot to me. One time Mom said to me that my Dad and Sheryll had been gone so long it seemed like we never had them in our lives. Dad had been gone about 30 years and Sheryll about 20 when she said that.
I can't say me or my mom fell the same it has been 23 years since my brother passed but for me it is still hard but for my mom it is even worse she has an extremely hard time every holiday birthday and of pass away date. It can become a distant memory for sure. My heart is with you and your mother.
Thank you. My mother died a year ago Feb. 6th. It's just my little sister and brother and me left from a family of 6 now.
Thanks, Sam and Deb. I was unhappy with the formatting on the post. It's supposed to be single spaced with double spacing between verses, but the post refused to single space or center it. Oh well, you still got the message. Carol
Thanks, Mike. I was unhappy with the way the formatting showed up on here...it's supposed to be single spaced with double spacing between verses, but I couldn't get it to show up that way on the post. And I had centered it under the paragraph, however....you still get the point. Carol
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Beautiful.
Thanks, Darleen.