Yellow Roses

The Rose Beyond The Wall - A. L. Frink

Near a shady wall a rose once grew,

Budded and blossomed in God's free light,

Watered and fed by the morning dew,

Shedding it's sweetness day and night.

As it grew and blossomed fair and tall,

Slowly rising to loftier height,

It came to a crevice in the wall

Through which there shone a beam of light.

Onward it crept with added strength

With never a thought of fear or pride,

It followed the light through the crevice's length

And unfolded itself on the other side.

The light, the dew, the broadening view

Were found the same as they were before,

And it lost itself in beauties new,

Breathing it's fragrance more and more.

Shall claim of death cause us to grieve

And make our courage faint and fall?

Nay! Let us faith and hope receive--

The rose still grows beyond the wall,

Scattering fragrance far and wide

Just as it did in days of yore,

Just as it did on the other side,

Just as it will forever-more.

My Mother In Law passed away last Saturday and her funeral was held this week.  She loved yellow roses and her husband of 64 years wanted to make sure she had yellow roses.  As tough as the week has been, it was wonderful to see how a family came together during a time like this.  She would have been so proud of her children, grand-children, nieces and nephews and friends supporting her husband and each other.  She has not been well during the past couple of years and we all knew she was now free of pain and in peace.

It's time like this that make you sit back and take a look at your own life.  I did not grow up in a home like the Walton's and I do realize that someday I will have to handle the arrangements for my parents, probably on my own. It's also the time I appreciate my own husband, our children and their spouses.  No, my kids didn't grow up in the Walton's house either, but our family does have a special closeness.  Recently, I heard my daughter and her husband talking to my son and his wife and the words "But don't tell anyone yet, because we not making it public" warmed my heart to know that they're close enough to share special secrets.