moose 57 Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) Just Stay A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside."Your son is here," she said to the old man.She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.He refused.. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her."Who was that man?" he asked.The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered."No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life.""Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?""I knew right away there had been a mistake,but I also knew he needed his son, and hisson just wasn't here.When I realized that he was too sick to tellwhether or not I was his son,knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey.His Son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent toinform him.. What was this Gentleman's Name?The Nurse with Tears in Her Eyes Answered,Mr. William Grey.............The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.**************WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH ATEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO DO ANYWAY. RIGHT ?HAVE A GREAT DAY AND BLESS Edited April 9, 2015 by moose 57 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
precious1 Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 May each of us do the right thing at all times but especially when we are needed the most. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronscarpa Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 An Awesome Post Moose...Thanks...(+1) and worth Five (5) Stars...! As a Hospice Chaplain, we are often placed in a similar position...we just need to "Be There...and Stay" until the end...! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temperament5 Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for the sharing! If only we would always remember to show grace to others at all times what a more beautiful place this would be! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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