POEM – My Father, My Mother, and I – Nursing Home Ministry Resources

My Father, My Mother and I
by Jerry Johnson

Before my time . . .
My mother walked the streets at night;
She was poor and outcast, diseased.
Plying her wares — a social blight —
A “thing” to those she sought to please.
In the dreadful mornings, when the sun shone bright
She sulked away in sullen shame,
Hoping sleep, wicked guilt would tame.

Now the King who ruled the daylight
Was Love epitomized.
Only those who never met Him
His kindness criticized.
He was meek and He was humble
Though no man dared try His might.
He was handsome beyond comparison;
From His eyes . . . came healing Light.

Early, as my mother scurried
For her ragged bed through the morning dew,
The mighty King’s great procession
Turned onto the city avenue.
She cast a shameful glance his way,
When her eyes met his – she could not lift a shoe.
Oh, the horror when his chariot stopped;
Oh, the amazement as he spoke: . . .”I would love to marry you!”
So into His chariot He lifted her
As she clutched her ragged shawl.
He put his strong arm around her:
At His side, no chance to fall.
To His glorious castle He took her
And He proudly announced to one and all:
“This is my lovely bride, prepare her,
To the guests of the wedding feast send out the call!”
In elegance and innocent charm
In a glistening white wedding dress
My beautiful mother adorned His arm
As she walked the aisle with no regrets.
Unreserved, without alarm
She sincerely did profess
Her past ways were wholly gone
She would love her King . . . with faithfulness.

Now the King who ruled the daylight
Was Love epitomized.
Only those who never met Him
His kindness criticized.
He was meek and He was humble
Though no man dared try His might
On her hand He placed His ring,
In her wounded heart . . . His healing Light!

As time passed . . .

Now the King had one great servant
Who was greater than them all.
He was mighty, he was beautiful
But his arrogance was his fall.
And he thought to have the King’s new wife.
He knew her past . . . her young resistance would be small.
So decked with his brilliant, gleaming robes
He cornered her alone one day in the hall
He whispered, I have caught your wondering eyes
Admiring my physique —
For love like mine your memory cries.
Now I’m sure the King is kind and sweet
I know he really tries
But it is my touch that you seek.
Wander with me ‘neath the blue skies
Of the wilderness for a week!
My mother fell for his scheming ways.
They fled into the wilderness.
Indulging in the horrible deed for days . . .
Her satisfaction turned to emptiness . . .
And too late she found it isn’t worth the lonely wage it pays!
Now the great servant disdained her highness
As he hurried off he laughed: “I’m leaving, only the King’s condemnation stays!”

The day that devil left her . . .

She found herself alone and lost
The desert now her home.
If only she had counted the cost;
If only she had known!
Oh, the misery of the desert morning frost!
Oh, the scorching of the sun at noon!
But the King’s love that she had tossed
She discovered wasn’t dreamed . . . she’d have His baby soon!!!
I was conceived in love and security
I was born in hopelessness and shame.
Though my mother was awash with iniquity
We still carried my Father’s kingly name.
We wondered among my mother’s former kind;
She dragged me from sordid place to place;
A helping hand, a pleasant word we could not find:
Her old friends hated . . . the light upon my face.
I was rejected and felt forsaken
For my own mother wished me dead:
For she felt it better if I were taken
Than to face the hopelessness ahead.

We scrapped, we scratched, we crawled
As the desert fed us worthless sand.
The uselessness of fighting left us both appalled.
What a meal we ate at the hateful servant’s hand!

Then, one day we met a messenger.
From the King’s palace he had come.
He said the King had lost His wife to sin,
But He knew she was carrying His son!
He said the King would take her back again!
For He searches every day.
On His mighty white steed He rides the clouds.
When they see Him they can call Him — He will turn their way.
The herald didn’t know us
In our rags and blistered skin.
As he left to go on preaching
We could not believe the flicker of hope he left within.
So we turned back to the desert
With tears of hopelessness streaming from our eyes.

And the wilderness was still laughing when I saw . . . the glimmer in the skies.

Through the thick, dark, brazen overcast
A shaft of light did pierce.
Though incredulous, our heart leaped inside at last
And our sorrow turned to joyful tears.
Behold, the Mighty White Steed
And my Magnificent Father held his reins!

We cried, we screamed: “Dear Jesus!!!! Dear Jesus!!!”
They were gone: . . . the guilt, the sorrow, the pains.
His face in that instant burst
With living, loving Light.
He seemed overjoyed to see us
As resurrected by the sight!

Our guilt and that devil had lied to us —
He never wished us any harm!
And swooping low, rushing toward us,
He safely lifted us . . . with His mighty arm.

And now . . .

As born again, my mom and I
With Him safely ride from condemnation freed;
Winging for Home thru the clearing sky
Upon His Mighty Steed.
For in His loving eye
I see now my destiny:
In His Amazing Grace to abide
In every word and deed.

Now the King who rules the daylight
Is Love epitomized.
Only those who never met Him
His kindness criticize.
He is meek and He is humble
Though no man dare try His might
He is handsome beyond comparison;
From His eyes come. . . for soul and spirit . . .
Everlasting, healing Light.