My Great Aunt Clara passed away recently. Now, you might be thinking, “Well, she must’ve been old.” And yes, she was—almost 104 years old. But what made her remarkable wasn’t just her age. It was her spirit, her gratitude, and her unwavering faith through a life that didn’t always go the way she had planned.
About ten years ago, I started taking my mom and aunt to visit her each year for her birthday. Those long drives across Texas gave me a front-row seat to the stories of three strong women—and especially to the quiet strength of Aunt Clara.
She was always happy to see us, always alert, and always ready for her favorite treat: a Dairy Queen Blizzard. I’d watch her polish off the whole thing while I fretted about calories, and she’d just beam and say, “Eat the ice cream!” She believed life was meant to be lived joyfully—even in the later years.
Aunt Clara’s life wasn’t easy. She married young and had five children, though heartrendingly, one passed away at a young age. While her first husband was someone her children loved, the marriage was difficult, and she eventually made the hard decision to end it. Years later, she remarried. Though that marriage had its challenges too, she and her second husband shared many years together, marked by perseverance, faith, and quiet companionship.
When she turned 100, people traveled to west Texas from all over to celebrate her life. Her granddaughter planned a beautiful event filled with stories, love, and laughter. It was clear that even if Clara’s journey had taken some difficult turns, her life had made a lasting impact.
During one of our last visits, she asked me a question I wasn’t quite ready for:
“Why am I still alive?”
I reminded her of the time she said she wanted to live to 106, and we both laughed. But her question stuck with me—not just because of her age, but because it came from someone who had lived through so much, made hard choices, and endured consequences she never imagined.
She shared with me how some of her decisions—ones she made in good faith—turned out badly. Life didn’t unfold the way she expected. But even so, she said, God was always with her. Her faith never wavered, and her gratitude never faded. She believed, deeply, that everything—even the pain—was part of a greater purpose.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
Aunt Clara’s story reminds me of the many people we will serve at Community Forever Village. Like her, many of our chronically homeless neighbors made decisions in life they thought were right—only to find themselves in difficult, even heartbreaking, places. The difference is, they don’t have family bringing them Blizzards or friends traveling hundreds of miles to celebrate their lives.
But they do have us.
They have you.
At CFV, we believe every life matters, no matter the path that led someone here. Like Aunt Clara, many of our neighbors carry both regret and resilience. And just like her, they deserve to be seen, loved, and reminded that it’s not too late for joy, for connection, and for purpose.
You Can Be Part of That
You don’t have to be 104 to make an impact.
You just have to care.
Join us in walking alongside those whose lives didn’t turn out the way they planned—but who still have so much to give and receive.
👉 communityforever.org | Volunteer. Donate. Share. Build community.
Let’s be the reason someone believes their best days might still be ahead.
