Do You See….. ME!!
What do you see nurses?…..What do you see?
What are you thinking…… When you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man…… Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit….. With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food…… Makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice…… ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice….. The things that you do.
Forever is losing…… A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not….. lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding….. The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?….. Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse….. You’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am….. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding…… As I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten….. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters….. Who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen….. With wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now….. A lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty….. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows….. That I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now….. I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide….. A secure happy home.
A man of Thirty….. My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other….. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons….. Have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me….. To see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more….. Babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children….. My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me….. My wife is now dead.
I look at the future….. I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing…..Young of their own.
I think of the years….. The love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man….. Nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age….. Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles….. Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone….. Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass….. A young man still dwells, Now and again….. My battered heart swells
I remember the joys….. I remember the pain.
I’m loving and living….. Life over again.
I think of the years, all too few….. Gone too fast.
Accept the stark fact….. That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people….. Open and see.
Not a cranky old man…..
Look closer…..
Do You See………….. ME!!
Written by ‘Anonymous’
I put this touching poem on this website for the sole purpose of showing someone the importance of visiting with those that are sick in the hospital or living out their last day in a nursing home. Would it really hurt you to take just a few minutes to visit with your elderly loved ones or visit with an elderly man or woman that is lonely and thought to be forgotten in a nursing home. Imagine what it will be like when you reach their age, will there be anyone to visit you when you are lonely, to be a friend, or even become a brother or sister to one that has lost everyone they ever knew.
In the event you do decide to take that step, just remember to show the same love that GOD has blessed you with. Maybe there is someone that does not know the Lord, do not assume they do not, but rather ask. If they are a brother or sister in the Lord, show them that brotherly or sisterly love they deserve and if they are not a brother or sister in the Lord, ask them if they would like to become part of a very, very, very big family and show the the love that GOD has blessed your heart to share. Take the moments that it takes to introduce them to your Lord and Savior as someone took their time to introduce you to their Lord and Savior. To make them feel better about joining our family, tell them that we all have a Big Brother that sits on the throne and that His name is Jesus.
Remember Jesus said, “‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’ and ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:40, 25:45)
- Bishop J.D. Sparks
- Touching Heaven Ministries
