Resident Al Guretse shares a poem he wrote in honor of his late wife with the Cherry Hill Sun.
November 18, 2016, my wife of 70 years passed on. One way of making this a little more bearable for me is I recall how I managed to cope with different “crosses” that God would send us. My favorite way was to try to write a poem and it’s a gift that I thank God for every day. Here is one example of what I’m talking about:
To Lois — My Favorite Valentine
Friday, January 21 was the day, around 11:30 or so
You and I decided out to lunch we would go.
Champps Restaurant was close by and it was on our way
Since it wasn’t quite noon, we figured a fairly short stay.
The day was cold and blustery
And I didn’t want you to have to walk too far.
So I told you I’d leave you off in front
While I’d tend to parking the car.
Snow and ice made the threshold slippery,
And much to our chagrin,
Your free went out from under you
Just as you were about to go in.
Once again our lives have taken a twist
The latest — a broken bone in your wrist.
But you have proven by doing all the things you do,
That you can do more with one hand than I can with two!
Now comes the loving part of my story.
A cast encases your arm.
But with all the pain and discomfort
You still keep your humor and charm.
Things are really different for us these days,
What you used to do easily has now become a maze.
You accept my mistakes because you know my intentions are good,
And overlook that I don’t do things the way that you would.
This isn’t our first health related problem,
But each time God gives us the strength to come through.
We know He doesn’t’ send us more than we can carry
And this we believe to be ‘Oh so true.”
We pray together and try to accept His will,
We’ve learned a good sense of humor, is better than a pill.
We thank God every day for we always discover,
He leaves one of us well enough to take care of the other.
Hon, as you know, we’ve had our health problems,
These latter years have brought us quite a few.
But regardless of how much stormy weather
Each incident, it seems, just brings us closer together.
So, this Valentine’s Day, I hope and implore
That you’ll know I love you now, more than ever before.
And I’ll try and let my love shine through
To show I really meant it, when I said, ‘I Do.’
