The elderly man sat in his recliner as he has done day in and day out for the past three months. “Today will be the day, I will get company”. He thought to himself. He cautiously walked across the room to turn on the TV. It was nearly time for the Price is right. As he turned on the TV a dim light flickered in the center of the Television set. He turned the on switch again only to find that the TV had died, like so many things in his life had.
He ran his hands through his thinning white hair as we sat down hard on his recliner again. He cupped his head in his hands and the tears just began to fall. He could not seem to stop them as his mind wandered to his wife of 62 years. “Annie, I miss you so much. I know it has only been three months but honey life is not life without you here. I want to be with you. Annie, I am so lonely”.
He cried till there were no tears left to come from his tired eyes. He fell to his knees and began to pray to Heavenly Father. He was so lonely. Nobody came to visit him anymore. Nobody came to see if he had food in the house. He could no longer drive because he did not have the strength and he had lost the desire as well. He was ready to give up. “No” he said aloud “I do give up”.
He no longer had the strength to even get off of his knees. He was so weak from not eating, stress and the depression that had turned his life so dark. Just as his last breath was being released from his lungs for the last time, their was a knock at the door. He didn't even hear it.
When there was no answer at the door, Jannie used her key and slowly unlocked the door. She found her father, lifeless on his knees with his wife's photo in his hands.
Jannie felt emotions from one extreme to the next as she gently cried standing by the casket that held her Father.
Moral of the story is:
We all need to know that someone cares. We all need to know we are not alone. Just stopping in to say “Hi. How are you” or just picking up the phone to say “I was thinking of you”. May give someone the hope and strength they need to keep from giving up. WE often forget that we are not alone. WE need encouragement from someone else. If we were intended to be alone, Heavenly Father would have sent us to earth one at a time.
This short story was written for the Thursday Writing Essential Assignment given by Kimberly for April 7, 2011
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Comments: 37
I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. :)
Makes me feel awful lonely :(
I am sorry that my story made you feel lonely. You can talk to your Mom and Dad, can;t you?
You can always call me. :)
Sometimes I want to find someone and sometimes I don't. Of course, I have to leave the house to meet someone and I don't do that much :(
Thanks, Connie. You are SUCH a good listener.
I used to work in a grocery store that was located next to a apartment building for handicapped and elderly people. I was shocked to find that their families no longer visited them when they had nothing to offer.
I wish their families realized that they had much more to offer than they ever had before. they had compassion, love and knowledge. Money is far from being the best give one can give or receive.
I was told many times by the elderly that my huggs just made their day. And you know what? It did not cost me a penny. :)
WE all have something to offer. Far too often people think that money is the cure for everything. A big house, a fancy car, a big boat or a vacation home but without someone to share those with, they are meaningless.
I am sure you were blessed as well.
We figure our husbands just need to share a hospital room.....
It was probably good for both you and her to get out of the house even if just a few hours.
Did you see my "tribute" to your birthday in the Today Post? :)
Don't expect too much from me though. :)