Stepmother

This poem was written by the eldest of three sisters and read it was read at their

stepmother’s 75 th birthday. The three girls were 3,7 and 12 when their father remarried.

Their future stepmother was only nineteen years old at the time.

Perhaps a poem of encouragement to stepmothers?

Three little girls without a mother

All taking care of one another;

Along came Father, totally smitten;

Says “This is Shirley, my new sex kitten.”

A wicked stepmother? No! we cried

But Dad was determined to make her his bride.

What lay ahead for us? Who could tell?

Like Hansel and Gretel, our lives would be hell!

But Oh! Our dear friends, how wrong we were.

Our lives were far richer for having her.

Loving and caring, she feathered our nest

So today we can say “Thanks Ma, you’re the best.”

(Given to me by a friend, now deceased. Author unknown)

A WAR-TIME MIRACLE

“Did miracles still occur after Jesus ascended to heaven? Yes, I think so. My Dad was a living example that I was able to witness daily for the for 11years of my life. He was seriously wounded during the First World War. Machine gun bullets had penetrated both legs and one went right through a knee joint. During the 26 hours before he was taken to a field hospital outside Verdun, France, he made a vow with the Lord that he would become a missionary if he could ever walk again. He was due for a double amputation. When his time came in the open-air theatre the doctor said he was tired and went to have a cup of tea. On his return he skipped my Dad and carried on with his amputations. When an orderly reminded him that he had missed one patient, he replied that he would take a chance with him. My Dad recovered wonderfully and later walked up and down many mountains in Zululand as a missionary, without a limp and any physical support.”

Irmgard Mitchell (Sunshine Coast, Australia)