My Favorite Days

My Favorite Days
by Lisa Cohee
My favorite days begin as suchwith a bit of sunshine and lives to touch My favorite days consist of thisa sweet elderly lady who asks for a kiss A woman who has been through so much painwho simply needs me to fetch her cane An elderly man, so quiet and lonelyasking “Won’t you come sit and talk to me?” A woman who speaks only once in a whilebut with a glance she’ll say plenty to make me smile A woman who seeks such independenceshe says “I’ll do it myself”but when I stop byshe calls me her “Angel”and I could just cry A man down the hall, with a grin on his facehe pokes fun and laughs muchwhen my presence I do grace A woman who has suffered a strokebut her spirit and spunk has never been brokeasks how my day is and more often than notwill offer a hug or a sweet little poke The many men and women who live where I workall of them special, with or without quirksthey make me smile in one way or anotherthey keep me going and make me strongersome are gone now and some will stayI love them all and often I praythat I can find time in my busy dayto help them allin even the smallest way...this is all part of My Favorite Days

Caregivers Need Care Too

I am brought back to a memory so very long ago.You loved me and I loved you; that’s all we needed to know! We were ready for our new lifeCould storm through any kind of weather.As long as we had each other,We would always stay together! “For better or worse,” “In sickness and in health”Were promises we thought we’d understand.But life threw a curve ball and showed usThat nothing ever goes as planned. One day, something happened which caused us much grief.Life interrupted, stole your health like a thief! On came your diseaseWhich I could not understand.I was frightened quite oftenBut I entrusted you in God’s hand. I don’t want to treat you with pity.Acting as if you were my child.I just don’t know where to draw the line.This disease is so dang wild! Not to sound selfish, but I’m a person too!Very few know all that caregivers must do!People can’t see our pain because we hide it well.If they’d stop and ask us questions,Oh! The stories we could tell! I know you can’t understand what’s going on,This disease is a killer, no doubt!But we’re all strong together,And that’s what love is about! So please don’t forget about me, the frightened caregiver at best.We’ll keep our faith in each other, and in God, we’ll safely rest. I don’t care what you can or cannot do.The purpose of this poem is to say that I love you! Those vows were not for nothing.I meant each word I said.No matter what might happen,We will still be lovingly wed. This disease doesn’t make you any less of a person.Just changes the style of your life.Remember that you’ll always be my husband,And I’ll always be your wife!
By Heather J. Davis

Poem for the Caregiver

The Wooden Bowl

The affects of aging may be inevitable, but these do not lessen a person’s value. In contemporary Western culture, the young are considered more valuable than the elderly. This is not the case in every society, nor has it always been this way in our culture. The following bible verse appears to be more consistent with many Middle Eastern cultures and African-American cultures where older adults are more highly revered and valued. Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:32

Most of us have been told to respect our elders ever since we were children. What does it mean to respect our elders? It may be easier to understand the meaning and application of the word respect by first looking at the word disrespect. Disrespect includes things such as ignoring someone’s thoughts or feelings, being condescending, being neglectful, forcing your opinion, or being rude or selfish. Now consider the opposites. There is a strong connection between the words honor, obey and respect. As you provide care for your aging parents remember the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. –Luke 6:31. Isn’t that really what it is all about? The Wooden Bowl story clearly makes the point.

THE WOODEN BOWL

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and 4-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off the spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something with grandpa," said the son. "I have had enough of spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and the wife set a small table in the corner.

There grandpa ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed their dinner. Since Grandpa had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandpa's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped his fork or spilled food. The 4-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little wooden bowl for you to eat your food when you grow old." The 4-year-old smiled and went on with his work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no words were spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took the grandfather's hand and gently led him to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. For some reason, neither the husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. – Author Unknown