The Shy Little Girl

Born on the Blue Ridge
In Depression Days -
To my mind she was like
Elizabeth-in-braids,
Wispy Walton child
Swinging hard and free -
Soaking up books
In the crook of a tree.

As the youngest of eight
(The eight who survived),
She played in white clay,
And the time soon arrived
When she walked off to school
Clutching sister's hand fast -
The shy little girl
Who wore the hand-me-downs last.

Like a duck with a pond,
She made reading her friend
And dove in head-first
When they gave her a pen.
Even math didn't ruffle
Her feathers too much
Until they mixed letters in
With the old numbers bunch!
 
Somewhere in there
They moved to the city;
Her Girls' High yearbook
Showed her poised and pretty;
Left behind, the summer nights
When she'd walk on her hands
Outdoors - and up stairs!-
With her closest of friends.

Outside of Girls' High,
She met lots of young men,
But not all to-swoon-for;
Some no more than friends.
Growing up, we cringed
And giggled to hear
Of the one who stashed gum
Back behind his ear!

And while such behavior
Might have served to astound,
Soon a more dapper suitor
Began hanging around.
She'd met him at church;
Then he'd gone off to war,
So she'd written him letters
And letters galore.

Then one day, back stateside, 
He happily chose
On a Stone Mountain outing,
To humbly propose.
Her answer was ready -
A resounding yes! -
She would follow him
For worse, better, or best.

It was nearly Christmas
When they spoke their vows
Before God, pastor, family,
At her brother's house.
Things had to get better,
Since he'd just quit his job;
But they had each other,
And that was enough.
 
Then follow she did!
Crossed oceans and brooks,
To states and countries
She'd known only through books.
As they journeyed together,
Their family grew,
As God blessed with a son
And then three daughters, too.

Through thickest and thin,
They were bonded in heart,
While wars sometimes placed them
Many time zones apart.
With prayers, letters, phone calls
And memories replete,
They counted days 'til reunions - 
And reunions were sweet.

At graduations and weddings
They witnessed and beamed;
And their family grew larger
Than ever they'd dreamed.
As grandchildren came,
Grew and multiplied,
Their hearts swelled with love,
And their eyes gleamed with pride.

Still, she loved that dear man
Through better, through worse:
Help meet, best friend, 
Caretaker, nurse.
And one gentle April
As God called him away,
She bid him go on;
Pledged to follow one day.  

And oh! - the reunion 
They'll have over there:
No sickness, no sadness,
No worry, no care!
His smile will be wide
When he sees her again,
And Heaven will chime
While sweet praises ascend.

She's on her own now,
But not really - ever,
For her Lord who is with her
Will leave her side never. 
She's loved by her children,
Her grand and her great, 
And she's strong! 
Who knows what roads still await?
 

She's come a long way
From the mountains she knew.
Who could have foreseen 
All she'd grow up to do? 
Who'd have thought she'd grow bold,
Wise, and strong - those years past -
The shy little girl
Who wore the hand-me-downs last?