How Grateful Am I
MRidder 20110527

How grateful am I for the blessing of she
whom God brought to my life for my spouse would she be
we gave pledges in earnest as vows with meaning exchanged
and we looked forward with young eyes t'ward the life to be shared.
We gathered our belongings, not so many you see
and set off t'ward the future knowing not what would be.
We had love then and hope for a future with joy
and pursued hard the training which would help in coming times to employ.
There were children, such blessings, count them one through the fifth,
and we learned through our twins that only three would be with
us in this life to share as a family of six
who would take on what life brought to such heights nondescript
oh, the fun and the joy as we shared with those in need
giving care as we shared lest we succumb to some greed.
All the blessings we compiled became treasure beyond earthly compare
oh the children from far lands who had come this life with us share
and we carried them in prayer though the miles kept apart
both these children and we who were joined at the heart.
Career funded all that we knew in life then
until fate one day brought so much crashing to end.
Then the pain began incessant as it tore through my life
rending nerves beyond means to control, left in strife
as I writhed on the floor, gnashing teeth lest I scream
but in end all control lost and I heard my voice seem
as a scourge of this planet, some bedevilled old sot
who had lost all control of body and would gladly be shot.
Through calamity my blessing, my wife and Best Friend
brought her heart to my need seeking means body mend.
Took me endless to doctors and the therapy and more
holding my hand and forecasting we would reach the far shore
where relief from earthly pain would come found, she had faith
and together we charted our course through this fate.
Oh, my darling, my wife, the love of my life
how my limits have changed life and she remains at my side.
So abilities changed, and former vigor now gone
but we share love so deeply that we're still blessed as one.
Tender touching and talking, sharing souls bared to thread
we have found more to life and so rich beyond bed.
Would we known this maturity of our love without pain
had I gone forth in glory in the business world game
earning funds without end that begat philanthropy
or would that life have become cold and the ultimate empty?
I am thrilled for this one who is LOVE of my LIFE
and feel blessed that through years of pain stayed at my side!
Can I do all I did in my youth oh so strong?
Not at all, but through this world I have learned I belong
to my wife without question as we share in new ways
how our love for each other comes as blessing each day
and she loves that I share on this place of such care
with so many in need who have pain without compare.
So this blessing I know as my wife who gives life
to this work on these pages, how grateful am I.

Indeed,
Mark56