THE NURSING HOME
By Kathy S. Norris
They sit around together
And reminisce of days gone by
They speak of many special times,
And then they start to cry.
One says:
I was a teacher, for over 40 years.
Oh, if only I could be there now,
Then her eyes are filled with tears...
So, she shuts her eyes and in her mind
She goes there just once more
To that little one room schoolhouse
And she opens up the door.
She stands there in amazement,
Starts walking down the aisle,
Toward the front where she once stood
She thinks she'll stay awhile.
She thinks of all the children
That were in that little school.
She encouraged them to study hard,
And to obey the golden rule.
Each day she taught those children
How they could learn and grow.
And hoped one day they'd prosper
From all the seeds she sowed.
She sits around with others...
Remembers special times.
A tear falls slowly from her cheek,
And, then she smiles and sighs!
One says:
I was a farmer, I worked so hard each day.
Sure wish I was still able,
And he closed his eyes to pray...
He prayed that he could go back
To the life that he had known
Just to see what crops were growing,
On the farm that he once owned.
Suddenly he's there, and he can smell,
The scent of a new plowed field,
So in his mind, he ponders
About what crop that it might yield.
He reaches down and feels the texture,
Of the fresh and fertile soil.
He remembers just how good it felt,
As he reaches down once more.
He remembers working hard each day,
When he had crops to tend.
That work gave him a special joy,
That he prayed would never end.
He sits around with others...
Remembers special times.
A tear falls slowly from his cheek,
And... then he smiles and sighs!
One says:
I became a housewife, when I was but a child.
Sure wish I could relive those days,
And then she starts to smile...
As she sits there in her rocker,
She slowly drifts away.
She dreams of the little farm house,
And those many happy days.
Well, she's so busy on that farm,
Doing her household chores,
Tending to her babies,
Washing, cooking, and scrubbing floors.
She gathered from her garden,
Or worked in the fields each day.
She was there beside her husband,
To be of help, in any way.
Each night she'd gather the family,
They'd bow their heads to pray.
She'd thank the Lord for his loving care,
And the blessings of that day.
She sits around with others...
Remembers special times.
A tear falls slowly from her cheek,
And... then she smiles and sighs!
One says:
I was a preacher, called by God above.
Oh, what a blessing if I could,
Still tell of His great love...
He prayed to his Heavenly Father,
To let him preach once more.
To fill him with His power,
As He always had before.
All at once he's able,
To get up out of his chair.
He starts to tell the others,
Of God's grace and loving care.
He tells each one about the love,
That God has had for them,
And how they should continue,
To put their trust in Him.
He tells how God has been there,
For each one's steps along the way.
And how His love now reaches forth,
As a comfort in these days.
He sits around with others...
Remembers special times.
A tear falls slowly from his cheek,
And... then he smiles and sighs!
Well, they all know they can't go back,
To those days of long ago.
So they just dream and pray real hard,
'Til those precious scenes unfold.
Precious Memories
How they linger...
Kathy resides in Cullman, Alabama and has been happily married to Keith for 27 years. They have two daughters, Bethany and Amy. They have two grandchildren, both 3 years old - a grandson, Avery, and granddaughter, Whitney. Kathy enjoys writing poetry and stories of how God has blessed her, and of special childhood memories while growing up in the country.
