Two years later...

A congregation stood in front of a small wooden cross, and the Reverend softly spoke. "Psalms 103:8-17...The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;"

Annette Lay, at the young age of 22, had also passed away of heart trouble. She was being buried next to her husband John. In the crowd, young Leonard and Barbara Lay stared at the wooden cross that was in the ground and then up at the Reverend. Leonard was five, Barbara was four. With them being so young, they didn't know what was going on and they didn't understand why they wouldn't see their Ma and Pa again. Leonard slipped his small hand into Barbara's and he reached up and held the hand of young lady, a Mrs. Argall, who was holding the two young children's three year old brother, Fred. Mrs. Argall was their mother's best friend, and she had stayed with Annette in her last few moments of life...She began to remember again of their conversation just before she died...

...FLASHBACK...

Annette Lay was lying on her death-bed with Mrs. Argall, sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"Jane..." Annette whispered.

Jane slipped her hand into Annette's. "I'm here, my friend."

Annette smiled. "Remember that verse, Jane? The one we'd always joke about?...'A friend loveth at all times..." She began and Jane finished the verse for her.

"...and a brother is born for adversity." Jane chuckled.

"And such adversity your brother gave you when you were children!..." She laughed slightly as well and paused. "...but thank you for being such a wonderful friend and making the first part of that verse true."

"You're welcome,...my dear friend..." There were moments of silence until Annette spoke again. Though, her voice was at a whisper and Jane leaned in so she could hear what she was saying.

"When I'm gone...Jane...please make sure..."

"Make sure of what, Nettie?"

"...That my children have a home...I want them..." Annette stopped in mid-sentence and was gazing out the window.

"Nettie..." Jane started to say.

"I see the angels...Two of them..." Annette whispered, still gazing out the window.

"What?" Jane looked out the window with a conused look on her face. "I don't see a thing!...There's no one outside, Nettie."

"Oh, they're there. They're there!...They're looking through that window...It won't be long now."

A few moments had passed and then Annette lifted her head, and was gazing upward.

"John...I can see My John...He's waiting for me..." She smiled and tears glistened on her cheeks.

A few more moments later and Annette had layed her head on her pillow and closed her eyes. A certain feeling of peace filled the whole room, and there was also a look of sweet peace on Annette's face.

...END OF FLASHBACK...

Jane Argall was imaging what kind of reunion John and Annette had when she had crossed over...She imagined John meeting her at the pearly gates and wrapping her up in a tender hug and then the two starting down the golden streets together. John showing Annette everything about that wonderful place called Heaven...Jane snapped back into reality as she heard the Reverend closing the funeral service with another Scripture...Isaiah 25:8.
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."

The funeral was finished and the Reverend had dismissed the congergation. The Reverend walked up to Mrs. Argall.

"Have you found a home for those dear young ones, yet?" The Reverend Morgan asked.

Jane sighed..."For Leonard and Barbara...Yes...A young couple will be adopting them soon."

"And for little Fred?..." He questioned.

"No...No one wants to adopt all three of them...I don't know wh-" She began, with a worried tone in her voice.

"Don't fret, Mrs. Argall,...the Lord will work it out...Have faith. The Good Book says, 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed..." He was saying and Jane finished his sentence.

"...you'll be able to move mountains!" Jane smiled.

"Correct." He smiled..."You'll be able to do anything...with His help of course. You'll even find a home for that little boy..."

A/N: The Reverend and the Mrs. Argall are my own characters.