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{Heart Touchers} *Ode to an Old Man* 9/19/01
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Joe Bosch shares a powerful poem with us today
on a disease that affects more and more families
each year. May his words touch your heart, and
may they bring comfort to those families who deal
with this on a daily basis...
From my family to yours,
Michael
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The author writes:
I just read a touching article about a doctor whose
wife is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. He
glories in the opportunity to sacrifice in his
service to his ailing wife because he remembers
all of the sacrifices that she made for him in over
50 years of marriage. Here's a poem that I wrote
in memory of my mother-in-law who succumbed
to Alzheimer's disease several years ago: "Ode to
an Old Man" was written in honor of my
mother-in-law who succumbed to Alzheimer's
Disease following a prolonged and agonizing
period of mental and physical deterioration.
During the later phases of this terrible disease,
she resided in a nursing home where she could
receive the level of medical attention that was
required. Our small family visited the nursing home
in shifts to assure that she was fed and groomed
by the caring, gentle hands of loving family. During
my visits, I observed the many elderly patients whose
bodies were wasted and who appeared to be unaware
of their surroundings. To them I dedicate this poem
and pray that it will bring some comfort to their
loving families.
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Ode to An Old Man
By Joe Bosch
The old man sat hunched in the old rocking chair.
His eyes were vacant as if no one was there.
His head was bent with his chin on his chest.
His heart beat slowly; his breathing suppressed.
But his mind was alive with golden memories galore,
And he lived in a world which no one else could explore.
He waltzed to sweet music with his lovely young bride.
And in his arms held his daughter; his joy and his pride.
He swelled with delight as his grandsons grew strong,
And he remembered how he taught them to never do wrong.
He relived the day that he first met the Messiah.
The day that his soul was inflamed with holy fire.
The old man sat hunched in the old rocking chair.
His eyes were vacant as if no one was there.
His head was bent with his chin on his chest.
His heart beat slowly; his breathing suppressed.
The nursing home staff viewed a worn-out old man.
The blessings he enjoyed, they could not understand.
He felt no pain, no discomfort, and no dread.
Because to this world his body was dead.
Within his mind, his spirit, and his great Christian soul,
He heard Jesus' words that he longed to be told,
"Come to me faithful servant, take a hold of my hand.
We are going to the Father and his angelic band".
The old man sat hunched in the old rocking chair.
His eyes were vacant as if no one was there.
His head was bent with his chin on his chest.
His heart beat stopped; his breathing came to rest.
--by Joe Bosch, A tiny, well-pruned twig grafted onto His vine.
jbosch@i-55.com
Write Joe and let him know what you thought of his poem!
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After retirement from teaching and being a public
school administrator, I have become involved in
my church where I currently serve as President
of the United Methodist Men of the North Shore
District of the Louisiana Conference of the United
Methodist Church. I don't receive any monetary
remuneration for this post. However, I work for
our Creator God who has devised the very best
retirement plan that was ever created.
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Reader Feedback!
Hi Michael,
What a wonderful story! It brought back so many memories of my own grandmother, who died when I was only 24, over 25 years ago. The memories, that I thought were long forgotten, began to surface again!
Thanks for sharing your story. God bless you.
Oh, yes, we are practically neighbors. I only live 80 miles away, in Beaumont!
Jennifer DeShazo RN
********
This story hit home to me as 1 week ago today, my husband's grandfather
passed away. My husband was very close to his grandfather & as it was a
very sudden death this has been hard on the entire family. We, too have
been told that with Granddad being 89 he had lived a long and fulfilling
life. All that is true but like Michael, what we really feel is a huge
sense of loss. We are thankful, however, that we know -- beyond a shadow of
a doubt -- that Granddad is now praising the Savior whom he so dearly loved.
We're thankful, too, that Granddad shared his love for his Savior with so
many and that he & Grandma have passed on a godly heritage.
Thank you, Michael for sharing and also helping me turn a tear into a smile.
Dawn P. Bergen
Bergen.Dawn@mayo.edu
*********
Dear Michael and Kristi,
It has been a week since that fateful day when New
York City witnessed one of the most brutal acts of
terrorism. We saw it on our TV sets here in India.
I just want to assure you and your family and other
friends in the United States that in this your moment
of grief, you are not alone. God surely has a plan
even in this. He seems to want to tell us something.
Maybe we have been drifting away from him and this is
his way of getting us together.
United with you in prayers,
Edlyn Rodrigues
Mumbai, INDIA
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Thought For the Day:
"The greatest use of life is to spend it for
something that will outlast it."
Verse for the Day:
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal." --Matthew 6:20
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"No one should wear white pants."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"It is important to give our children two things.
the first is roots; the other, wings."
Coach's Thought For The Day
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not
what they get for it, but what they become by it."
-- John Ruskin, Art Critic/Writer (1819-1900)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"If carrots are so good for my eyes, how come
I see so many dead rabbits on the highway?"
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REQUESTS:
Dear Michael and all the HeartTouchers folks,
Thanks so much for your prayers. I requested prayers for my sister-in-law
Maggie who had ovarian cancer. Maggie died early Sunday morning,
peacefully. If you all can continue your prayers to help us live without
Maggie, I know it will help us, especially her husband and mother.
The "coincidence" is that I only just got back on line today and the story
was "from a Tear to a Smile." Just another reason I believe that most
"coincidences" are really the Hand of God. He touches us when we most need
help or healing and sometimes we are His Hand for others.
Thanks, Mary
honasbdmj@prodigy.net
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DEAR MICHAEL,
HI IT'S ME AGAIN. I NEED MY BEST FRIENDS SON PUT ON YOUR PRAYER LIST. I WROTE TO YOU AND YOUR SUBSCRIBERS TWICE BEFORE FOR MY COUSIN SHARON WHEN SHE WAS NEAR DEATH, AND PRAISE GOD, BOTH TIMES IT HELPED HER SO MUCH. SHE IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND DOING WELL, BY THE WAY! :+) NOW I NEED PRAYERS FOR MY BEST FRIENDS SON SHAWN HINDERLITER, BECAUSE THEY FOUND WHAT THEY THINK IS SKIN CANCER ON HIS LEG. HE HAD GOTTEN A REAL BAD SUNBURN ON HIS LEG ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND THEY THINK IT HAS TURNED CANCEROUS. HE IS ONLY 28 YEARS OLD AND A GREAT YOUNG MAN. PLEASE PRAY FOR IT TO BE CAUGHT IN TIME AND THAT IT DOESN'T TURN CANCEROUS. I KNOW THIS COMES AT A TERRIBLE TIME FOR MOST PEOPLE, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY SEPT. 11.2001, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS A LOT OF PRAYERS TO PRAY TO GOD ALREADY. I KNOW YOU AND YOUR READERS WILL FIND IT
IN THEIR HEARTS FOR ONE MORE PERSON. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THEIR LIVES DUE TO THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF THEM, ALONG WITH ALL THE REAL HEROES WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP. IF THEY WANT, YOUR READERS MAY SEND PRAYERS TO SHAWN TO MY ADDRESS AND I WILL PRINT THEM OUT AND GIVE HIM A COPY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL SHE STANDS FOR!
LAURIE
MOTHENATURE@WEBTV.NET
********
Hello. A friend of mine has a 3 year old niece named Emily. A tumor
has been discovered behind her eye and they feel that they cannot
operate at this time. She is just beginning to start chemotherapy. I
would ask that you could pray for her and all her family.
Thanks very much,
Kathleen
kdahl@lib.uwo.ca
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no
\_\/\ \ longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I
\_\/ live in the body I live for the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
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Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.
My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect
for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX
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