When children pass over from this earthly life to a life with the One, those left on earth often struggle to comprehend such loss. This was, and still is the case, at times, when I think of my three nieces, Shantel, Danielle and Susan.

My brother was a hero when he died trying to save his children and wife from a fire that engulfed their home back in September of 1987. I see him in every rainbow and he has assured me that he and the family are doing fine! Accepting my brother's demise was difficult and took years of therapy to fully accept.

Losing my three baby nieces was incomprehensible!

Shantel was a wise little girl of six when she passed. I recall fond memories of playing nurse with her. I was always the patient and she the "old rude" nurse with a heart of gold. She used to tell me that most people think that old people are rude but they really were very kind. At six, I don't know where she got this idea and I will never know. I suspect it was an idea in some television movie that she had seen once.

Danielle, the four year old would be child model and actress, was amazing in looks and charm. I tear up as I think about this girl! Whereas my niece Shantel, looked more like my brother, little Danielle, was the image of her mother; petite, adorable. She had the face of an angel and the quick wit to accompany it. All who knew her were immediately possessed by her charm and her winning ways.

The night of the fire, her little body suffered burns over 98%. Her long beautiful hair was singed, yet one nurse at the hospital allowed my mother to clip a small piece of hair to save as a keepsake.

Oh, and then there was baby Susan. Susan was my niece and also my god-daughter. I was willing to do whatever I had to in order to help this special child to succeed in life. She was what some may term, a special needs child or a slow developer. What do "they" know! At twenty months, she had never uttered one word yet she spoke volumes through the expressions in her bright eyes.

We had a way of communicating that even she and her mother did not share. Susan had the biggest dimples, just like her Auntie Mimi, and large round brown eyes that told you precisely what she was thinking. On the night of the fire, after traveling 35 miles to a hospital trauma unit, Susan's lifeless body was the first sign that this fire was a tragic reality.

This poem is dedicated to the memory of my three nieces who died tragically in 1987 when a house fire roared, killing my brother and his wife, as well.

They are in Heaven with my brother, Aaron, and their mother., Stephanie. God bless their souls.

~ Three Little Angels R.I.P~
by Auntie Mimi

Awoke with thoughts of angels
Danielle came to mind
that pretty little
special girl
who left the world behind
Too soon, so soon
she wasnt even four yet
When God said come here
my child
Come meet me at the gate
of Heaven.
Awoke with angels
flying
all about my head
I saw Susan, sweet Susan
laying lifeless; she was dead
God knew why He took her
This innocent child of two
Couldn't understand it then
Not sure if I really do
And Shantel, the oldest
of the three
With beauty, brains and as
wise as she
could be
Her life was short,
only six when she died
for all of my sweet angels
a river of tears we all cried.
Awoke with dreams of angels
they are always in my heart
Not a day ever goes by
When the moments that are dark
Fill me with sadness,
overtaking
my soul
sending me over the edge
to a dark
and lonely road
where I sit and contemplate
my angels who are gone
who left this world too soon
And flew up to the
Beyond.
I know that they are happy
laughing
bouncing with glee
But, I sure do wish
I had them sitting right beside me
Rest in Peace my pretty angels
you now belong to God
Someday we'll meet again
In the Great kingdom of the Lord.

© 2007 M.L. Jacobs. All rights reserved.
No republication of this material, in any form or medium,
is permitted without express permission of the author.