Please, see me!

In a week's time will be Senior's week in Australia. Various activities are planned to celebrate this time. For 18 years as part of my ministry I was involved with a retirement village and nursing home. From out of that came a devotional book 'Dynamic Ageing' (available in Christian book shops or from me).

The following poem embodies a little of what I learnt.

What do you see,

When you look at me

Confined though I be

Through age and frailty?

 Look not on my decrepit form                                       

Pity not my senility

Peer beneath my wrinkled brow

Discover my true identity.

A passer-by sees but ‘the outer’

Unaware of the real ‘inner’.

Hidden within are many stories

Of love, loss, faith and glory

Friendships, family, my history

All which moulded me

Though they, you will not see,

Made me, me!

                To see only my frailty

                Cheapens my humanity.

                Un-mendable,

                I’m expendable,

Come, let me share my history,

Listen as I share my journey, 
Those difficult turbulent years

Of upheaval, triumph, joys, tears

Forgotten now in easier years.

We had community, we belonged

Life was tough, friendships strong,

Things for which I do so long.

                Now our importunity 

                Is your opportunity

                To give us dignity

                By compassion’s sincerity

You, like I, must walk from youth to age

Each step you’ll write upon life’s page,

Face it with faith in the God who cares.

Through His word, in times of despair

Find wisdom and hope for you to endure

And His grace to help you, to Him, be true.

Then, when our life’s race and battles end

We’ll be received by our Lord as His friend.

Copyright Ray Hawkins October 2017.
Ray is author of 8 themed devotionals. His latest 'The Warrior Lord's Triumph has just been released.
Blog site. http://rayhawkinsauthor.blodspot.com.au