Do the Next Thing--Poem

Thanks to Georgene for the link to this poem here:

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,

there came in the twilight a message to me.

Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven

that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.

And all through the hours the quiet words ring,

like a low inspiration, Do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

many a doubt hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from heaven,

time, opportunity, guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,

trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,

do it reliantly, casting all care.

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,

who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on omnipotence safe 'neath His wing,

leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

working or suffering be thy demeanor,

in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.

Do the next thing.

Living On Less Money (Georgene) you are so thoughtful and I love sharing our lives on line and by email. You did what you could by finding this poem and blessing me with it. .  

I am awake and pondering the next thing. A tax refund is coming and I can trust our LORD that I do not have to substitute teach every day. There is so much to attend to at home.

Hubby did go with me to my pastor's home Sunday night. He sat. He occupied a bathroom for over an hour contemplating getting off the toilet seat. Finally I was able to get him up (he needs that chair I pictured below this week). Then he sat on a bar stool. I brought him water and food and he hardly touched it. He did want a can of diet soda. My pastor's wife gentle coached him to eat cottage cheese.

When we got home last night, I put new sheets on the bed and he started to get ready for bed. He ended up sitting on the bed with his slacks half off. He sat there a long time rocking back and forth. I finally left the bedroom. When I came back, he had layed half across the bed on his back with his legs dangling off the bed. I asked him if he would like to get more comfortable. He said yes and we finally got him to sit up. I told him he had to have his antibiotic and diabetic medicine. I was skipping other meds, but considered it a triump to get those two medicines down him. I prayed once. Then I prayed again because I know this comforts him and he would have forgotten that I had already prayed. Good sleep came for both of us--me until my usual 4 am when I am wide awake.

What are some of the next things I must do?

1. Have a plumber come out and install the hand held device for the shower and also a new kitchen faucet.This will enable my husband to sit down for a shower. He can grow a beard (has a great start), but he has to have showers. I have heard at our Alzheimer's Association support group that these loved ones are all afraid of the water in the shower.
2. Make food I know he might eat.
3. Get a doctor's appointment for him. Kenny has told me about a tube that can be inserted where pills, water and  soft blender food can be inserted. It might come to this, but it would be a huge adjustment for hubby (and me).
4. Housekeeping or "House Blessing".

This is what my commitment "for better or worse" means. Thanks so much for your prayers, folks, and I am off to do the next thing before hubby gets up.