While he was out there toiling,
Working fingers to the bone,
Mom was spending her life serving
Her big family back at home.

She gave herself in portions
Just as everyone required;
Never mattered whether she was sick
Or sad or hurt or tired.

As Mother stood her duty
Over children one by one,
She came to live the saying,
“Woman’s work is never done.”

Patience, prayer and planning
Helped pull my Mother through,
And prayer supported Daddy
As she was want to do.

How did the years fly by so fast,
Too fast to hardly score?
The one that’s coming ‘round the bend
is number sixty-four.

And this year - this longest year,
More than was ‘ere before,
Mom has been beside our Dad,
Their life and love a door.

Mom doesn’t speak of all the pain
That’s rumbling through her soul.
She has no time for tears or grief,
Her husband’s still her goal.

In morn, in eve, in dark of night,
Through storm and flood and pain
All things are watched by Mother’s eye
For Father’s best to claim.

Through all the pain and sorrow
And his breaking with this life,
Dad’s reassurance doubles -
He has picked the best to wife.

And who could be more faithful?
Who could be a better friend?
Who could be a better help-mate
Than this love of Dad’s has been?

For Dad has always had first place
As all the children know.
Respect and strict obedience
Were fact - not just a show.

What will become of Mother
When Homecoming’s done for Dad?
What will fill that vacant spot
Her companion always had?

Oh there will be no vacant spot!
Memories will dwell
And fill those canyons where he lived,
And stories left to tell.

How can a couple be so blessed
Midst all this pain and strife -
A poignant year of memory
Between husband and his wife.

A year of closing up the gap
That life and work have wrought,
A year of closeness shared again,
A kiss, a prayer, a thought.

God bless my aging Mother
And keep her in Your care.
When victory’s won and Heaven’s come
My Mother will be there.

With love to my Mother, Beulah V. Summerfield.
Doris S. Jamison
Copyright © December l995
From my book, "Poems From The Heart".

Our precious mother was taken home
to be with our Lord, and to join Dad, on December 2, 2004.
We miss Mother and Dad so much, but we know
they both are waiting for us there, and
we will see them when the Lord calls us home.

Our very young Dad and Mom,
Seth & Beulah Summerfield