Gloria by Name and Nature

 

No doubt she can be matched

But not surpassed,

Concerning modesty and dignity

She is in a unique class.

 

I speak of no other

Than the late Gloria Taylor

The second deceased wife

Of the Reverend, Orvil Taylor.

 

  

How blessed can a man be

To have had two wives

With the second mothering his children

And enriching their lives…

 

Till they look like her

Like she had given them birth,

Notwithstanding their biological mother

Had long left this earth?

 

She mothered another’s children

As though they were her own

To the extent that they looked like her

After they were grown.

 

I’m not the only one who saw this;

There are others too

And the one now reading this,

I believe so have you.

 

A blessing to these three boys

To have been raised by this lady

Whom they all called Mom

And will miss especially dearly.

 

 

Pastor “T”, you have been blessed

Not once but twice

To have had two wonderful ladies

With whom you have made life.

 

Gloria took another’s children

As her very own

When she married their daddy

And together made a home.

 

And now for the second time

There is a gigantic void,

It is only natural, my brother, my sister,

If they feel annoyed.

 

As we commiserate with them

And give them room to grieve

We must be careful as fellow believers

Not to unintentionally deceive.

 

God sees and He understands

But often we do not

Hence, a silent squeeze of the hand

Can say a mighty lot.

 

A lot more than words can say

Far beyond counsel or advice,

A silent prayer or a meaningful card

Would more adequately suffice.

 

Their aching heart

Will now take time to heal,

Two such knocks in one lifetime

Is a fairly harsh deal.

 

We in no wise blame God

For we know this is life

But we acknowledge His presence

In the midst of life’s strife.

 

 

And we give Him thanks

For His Son and our Saviour

And surely for having known Gloria

By name and nature.

 

Stewart Russell © March 19, 2022