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When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was felt that she had
nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her
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 Ireland. (Where my grandma
lived) The old lady's sole
bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the
News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem.
...And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the
world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across
the Internet. Goes to show that we all leave "Some footprints in
time"..... |
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 What do you see, nurses, what do you see? What are you
thinking when you're looking at me? A crabby old woman, not very wise, Who
dribbles her 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 stocking or shoe..... Who, resisting or not, lets you 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 girl of sixteen, with wings on her
feet, Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet. |
  A bride 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 and a secure happy home. |
  A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast, Bound to each other with ties
that should last. At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone, But my man's
beside me to see I don't mourn. |
  At fifty once more, babies play round my knee, Again we know children, my
loved one and me. At eighty dark days are upon me, my husband is 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 woman ...and nature is cruel; 'Tis jest to make old age look
like a fool. The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart, There is now a stone
where I once had a heart. |
  But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells, And now and again my
battered heart swells. I remember the joys, 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, nurses, open and see, ...Not a
crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!! |
 My
dear grandma pictured in this poem lived a life for Jesus. Her heart was
in missions. She died May 5, 2002. The last 20 years of her life, I
remember she said so often that when she died, she was not going to leave
any money behind for people to fight over. She longed to see Jesus come.
Her heart was in mission work. She went as a self supporting missionary
with grandpa to Mexico. She and Grandpa planted a Seventh Day Adventist
church in Colima. When Grandpa suffered from Parkinson's, they had to
return to the United States. She faithfully cared for grandpa until it was
too much for her the last year. Faithfully she encouraged her
granddaughter, myself, to go on mission work for Jesus. Every trip out of
the country grandma contributed 100 dollars from her meager 500 a month
income. The baby in this picture of 4 generations is now 11 and enjoys
helping on mission trips. |
 How
I miss my grandma. I know some day when Jesus comes we will enjoy heaven
together. Grandma will see where her foot prints have led her children.
Are your foot prints leading others in the right direction? There is hope of eternal life for those who love to read their Bibles, care for the widow, the poor, the old people. There is a fantastic heaven where we can live for ever, if we have treated people as Jesus would. All will look young and healthy there. There will be no sadness, tears, or death. This place be prepared for those who love Jesus. John 14:1-3, John 3:16. The homeless have been fed, clothed, housed. The fatherless have been encouraged. The lonely have been comforted. These are the obedient people who act as Jesus would. Jesus describes how He cares for others and how He is to be loved. He explains it all in the 10 commandments. "Here are they that keep the commandments and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12
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