Somebody's Mother

Yesterday during Sacrament one of the speakers told a story about a mother. It reminded me of a poem my grandma has. (When I get a hold of that story I will put it on here. I really liked it.)

When my Grandma Snoopy was in school they memorized a poem. For all these years she has remembered most of the poem still. She is now in a care center close by and she lives her days with not much memory. She remembers who we are but she forgets that we have visited her that very day. She sometimes remembers snatches of her life if we get talking about it but not much.

My mother found this poem in grandma's things and took it to the care facility to keep there. A few month's ago we were all visiting and mom asked me to have grandma recite the poem while I read some words here and there to prompt her and I was amazed at how much she could remember. A few of us choked up as the poem was being read. (I think that is why mom asked ME to do it. I wonder if she thought I could get through it without crying. If so, it didn't work.)

Somebody's Mother

by Mary Dow Brine

The woman was old and ragged and gray

And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.

The street was wet with a recent snow

And the woman's feet were aged and slow.

She stood at the crossing and waited long,

Alone, uncared for, amid the throng

Of human beings who passed her by

Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,

Glad in the freedom of 'school let out,

"Came the boys like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep.

Past the woman so old and gray

Hastened the children on their way.

Nor offered a helping hand to her-

So meek, so tired, afraid to stir

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet

Should crowd her down in the slippery street.

At last came one of the merry troop,

The gayest laddie of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

'I'll help you cross, if you wish to go.

"Her aged hand on his strong young arm

She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,

He guided the trembling feet along,

Proud that his own were firm and strong.

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

'She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,

For all she's aged and poor and slow,

'And I hope some fellow will lend a hand

To help my mother, you understand,

'If ever she's poor and old and gray,

When her own dear boy is far away.

'And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head

In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was, 'God be kind to the noble boy,

Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"

I hope that we all take the time to care for others and show respect. I know I have a lot to learn and improve on. I feel bad to think of all the mothers that do not have family around and I pray that we will be better in caring to their needs. We ARE instruments in our Heavenly Father's hands.

I hope you all had a wonderful

MOTHER'S DAY!!