'Stay in bed for the day' my husband said' get rid of that cold'. 'Hmm.. I thought, maybe I will have a few hours in bed.' I could do with a rest. So I had stayed in bed that morning and much of the afternoon.
As I was laying there, gazing out through the window, I watched the people passing by in the street and reflected on how their lives might be, on whether there might be sadness behind the smile, or worry and anxiety behind the sombre look. I thought of how little we might know about one another's lives, whether we be workmates, neighbours or even strangers. After a while my husband brought me a cup of tea and I started to feel a little better, and decided to read. I looked at the books on my shelves and chose a book of poems called 'In Memory Of', a collection of poets' tributes to, and memories of, friends and loved ones that had died.
As I read poem after poem of people's feelings, some of joyful memories and some of grief, I began to realize that God was revealing to me what I had pondered on earlier while gazing through my window. He was now showing me what lay behind a face in the street, revealing to me people's innermost feelings, people who were mostly hurting through loss and loneliness.
I don't believe that God does anything by chance. I am a Christian and 'every day in my life is written in His book before even one of them was formed.'
As I lay in my bed I had to question my part in life as far as my fellow man was concerned. I read on and became filled with compassion for the people who had allowed me to see into their lives.
I know that on that day, when I was brought to see inside the hearts and minds of others, I felt compassion which brought in turn responsibility. I have been made aware of the loneliness and suffering of others, Christians included, and it has compelled me to play my part in life to the best of my ability. May the Lord help me always to be alert to where, and when, I may help another.
One poem in particular about a man who was grief stricken at the loss of his soul mate and looked to God for release filled me with such sadness that it brought me to write this poem which contains, I suppose, my own deepest feelings.
THE WINDOW
'Twas sickness caused me on that day
to rest and in my bed to lay
while through my window I could see
the world outside did not need me
It carried on its busy life
regardless of my pain and strife
Yet as I gazed upon the scene
that lay beyond lace covered screen
I wondered at each passer by....
if face reflected truth or lie
I lay in comfort needing naught
my husband food and drink had brought
but for my mind to idle be
was nothing short of misery
Then suddenly my eye was cast
upon my books - a treasure vast
A book of poems I should read
to satisfy my spirit's need
To see what lay within the mind
of other beings of my kind
I turned the pages one by one...
a stirring journey had begun
For hidden there in every leaf
was joy and sorrow, love and grief
A vast collection here was seen
of frozen dreams that might have been
of past regrets and loneliness
sweet memories of tenderness
lost loves and breaking of the heart
when sudden death caused to depart
a soul mate of so many years
My burning cheeks felt cooling tears
Such moving stories I had read
as I lay sick upon my bed
a window had been shown to me
through which I 'd seen reality
of pain that lay behind a smile
of need to go the extra mile
What of my part in life I thought
What words of comfort had I brought
in all my years upon this Earth
What words of love, support and worth
had touched the lives of those I'd met
Was there remorse, was there regret?
What use is it if kindly word
is left in thought and never heard?
This world that from my bed I saw,
that looked so proud and strong before
has need of me.... and I of it,
each soul to do its special bit
To share with others words of love
God's seeds of blessing from above
is all that may be asked of me
to help to set another free
from pain and hurt and misery
that death and loss has caused to be
But seeds can never come to birth
unless they're planted in the earth
So Father help me in my life
to ease another person's life
to seek my Lord to try to do
the things that I have learned from You
and may You cause my eyes to see
windows of opportunity
to stretch a tender loving hand
towards the suffering in this land,
to sow Your seeds of love and peace
that word and deed might bring release
