A PRECIOUS OLD MAN
Today’s Message of Encouragement from Discovering A BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES
(Stories of Real People, Real Events, Real Places) Is dedicated to HELPING Men and Women Find HOPE
THROUGH SHARING GOD’S GRACE and LOVE
(Ron Bainbridge, Editor) (December 14th, 2019)
A PRECIOUS OLD MAN
Friends, some years ago, when an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in magazines for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
This old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
A Cranky Old Man
“What do you see nurses? What do you see? What are you thinking, when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, who is not very wise? -- Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food and 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. And forever is losing a sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not, allows you to 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 them and secure a happy home.
A man of Thirty now, my young children have 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, now 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 and I think of the years and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man and nature is cruel. It's a jest to make old age, look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour, depart. But inside this old carcass, a young man still dwells and there is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart. And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells, as I remember the joys and I remember the pain. And I'm loving and living life over again. I think of the years, all too few, gone too fast. And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes people, open and see. Not a cranky old man. Look closer and see ME!!”
Friend, I hope you will remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!
Friend, if you would like some encouragement as to how to get the most out of your senior years, we would be pleased to send you a small booklet titled: “I’m getting Old.”
This booklet is a Free gift from us! Simply write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. If you prefer, you may E-mail your request at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au
"I will never be an old man.
To me, old age is always
15 years older than I am."
(Bernard Baruch 1870-1965))
Friend, BECOME A MISSIONARY TODAY,
By sharing Discovering A BETTER LIFE
With a friend, a Loved one or a co-worker
ON YOUR OWN Social Media PAGE!
Comments