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(Background music file is "Sentimental" by Kenny G)

 

The following poem was written shortly after the tragic death of my sister on August 25, 1989.
This is my loving tribute to that dear woman, Barbara Lynn (Hartzell) Factor, who died at the age of 29.

When I heard about my little sister
I quietly lived with the pain
It didn't sink in when they told me the news,
That I never would see her again
'Cause when there was pain in our lives
She was always the one who was there
With a heartfelt smile or a shoulder to cry on
Or simply to say that she cared.

I remember the days when we both were young
In those days life had only begun
There were times we would argue and we would fight
There were times when we had so much fun
Time passed us by, we grew up together
And the others went off on their own
But those days are gone, thought they’d last forever
The Lord, he has come to take you home.

So now I hang on to my memories
I know I can't cry any more
I feel like somehow she consoles me still
I've got so many things to live for
And I know that for her it’s not over
Her spirit soars on like a dove
And I feel like I'll always remember
Little Sister, Sweet Lesson of Love.

I remember my marriage had ended
My life it was coming apart
She came over and sat down beside me
Her caring had come from the heart
And she asked me how I was doing
As I reached out and sat down my mug
She looked at me and told me she loved me
Then she lovingly gave me a hug.

You know, in my life there's been much pain
And this, to me, is one more
I still look for good things to hang on to
Just to help me even the score
Yet my will to survive has been strengthened
I know that some day I'll succeed
With my family’s love here beside me
I've got all of the strength I will need.

And now I hang on to my memories
I know I can't cry any more
I feel like somehow she consoles me still
I've got so many things to live for
And I know that for her it’s not over
Her spirit soars on like a dove
And I feel like I'll always remember
Little Sister, Sweet Lesson of Love.

I know there are reasons for all things
I just wish that I knew what they were
I know that her friends and her family
Will never go on as they were
But I know there are reasons for hoping
And I realize this is true
Her sweet smile lives on in our memories
It consoles us when we're feeling blue.

And still we hang on to our memories
I know we won't cry anymore
I know that somehow she consoles us still
We’ve got so many things to live for
And we know that for her its not over
Her spirit soars on like a dove
And I know that we'll always remember you
Little Sister, Sweet Lesson Of Love.