He'll be 80 on his next birthday. I look at the eyes that have seen so much
sadness in his life. His mother whose life was taken with cancer. His wife of
many years who lost her life to MS. His daughter who lost her battle with
cancer. There are grandchildren, but they are too busy with their own lives to
worry about him. I took him under my wing when his daughter died. I make sure
he's got a hot meal to eat every night. I make him watch his sugar intake. And I
wonder why doesn't his family care enough to do what they should be doing?
They know how to dial a phone and they do when it's their birthday. They know
when it gets time for Christmas shopping how to contact him. And yet.....they
never offer to take him out to eat. They never call and say, "Do you need
anything?"
Tonight at supper, I mentioned that I would like to drive around the city and
look at the light displays at homes, businesses, etc. I looked at him and said,
"Would you like to take a ride with us and see the lights this year?" His eyes
spoke before his mouth moved and I knew, he would like it very much.
"I would love to ride around and see the lights," he said. "When my wife was
here, we used to do that every Christmas. I always loved all the lights and how
folks celebrate the birth of Jesus". "Well, after supper tomorrow night, we're
going," I said. He smiled and said, "I'd like that very much."
Tomorrow evening hubby and I will take this gentleman out for a ride. I want to
see his eyes when he sees the beauty of the lights. I want him to remember the
good years when his wife was with him and they drove around looking at all the
beauty of Christmas. I want to make him happy. I want to let him know how much
he is loved by us.
He is the little fellow who lives on the land in front of ours. And though he
has family, he is still alone except for us. He is not aware of the promise. I
will never let him know. It all began with a promise over four years ago, but
it's grown into much more than that today. Perhaps one day if I live to be his
age, someone will make sure I've got food to eat. Perhaps someone will call me
up and say, "Do you want me to take you to your doctor today for your check-up?"
I think it would make me feel good to know someone is there if I need them.
I promised his daughter before her death I would look out for her father. I've
done that since the day we buried her over four years ago. He knows, if he needs
anything, all he has to do is let us know. He never asks for much. He's a very
proud man. He is proud he's a WWII Veteran, Marine Corp. I'm proud he lives near
us.
He was happy when he left our house tonight. Perhaps his daughter is smiling
down from Heaven, nodding her head whispering, "Thank you for watching out for
my dad for me."
Sharon Bryant 1946@bellsouth.net
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