The Silent Years

About the Book

"To All Parents."

"I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said,

"For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's dead.

It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three, But will you, till I

call her back, take care of her for Me?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief

You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.

"I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true.

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.

Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain,

Nor hate Me when I come to call to take her back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy Will be done!

For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may,

And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay;

But shall the angels call for her much sooner that we've planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

Taken from "All In A Lifetime" by Edgar A. Guest.

About the Author

Myra A. Leo is a mother, grandmother and an author. She writes The Silent Years with the experience of losing her daughter, Lynn Ann, at the tender age of 9. The Silent Years is a biographical recount of the troubles and obstacles faced, by the Leo family in 1959, with the birth of a premature baby girl with an apparent brain abnormality. This story takes the reader from birth, death to realization and learning. It is a touching story of how a family and a community came together to help the young Leo couple with Lynn Ann as well as with Joey, the younger son. Today Myra A. Leo resides with her husband in New Jersey and often travels to see her two granddaughters Brianna and Krista, her son Joey and his wife Sue in Florida.