A nine-year drought

Brought torrents in May

You had chosen what to call me

But were given a new name

Always the strong one

You carried on in faith

Broken mother, broken father

It was your example that made Grace fully tangible

Looking at your mistakes showed me what risks to take

Working hard to make ends meet

No matter what, please know you did well by me

Forever humble and first to forgive

Treating the other as family

Never forgetting where you've been

You showed us what it means to wholly live

Adorned with quiet strength

You proved that meek doesn't have to mean weak

Learned to show Love to all, no matter title or rank

While not your own, you've helped raise me

And for the things you've shown me

I could hardly offer sufficient thanks

Even as the sickness lingers in your blood

You've carried on in hope and Love

And even though trouble surrounds all the while

You've continued to greet all with a heavenly smile

We watched your body fade

But until the end, your spirit shown bright

Something that cancer could never take away

We laid hands on and prayed

Oh G-d, how steadfast you stayed

How I wish I had possessed such faith

Now we feel the weight of your absence

And it's raised some doubt and questions

But in memorial we'll press on

Because, in the end, it's all you ever wanted for your sons

That we might realize our dreams

Live life beautifully

To truly glean all we can from our youth

Letting the rest of our lives stand as proof

There is a point to all of this

To learn to love as you