The County Home, that was what they called,
A place where they put the old ones after all.
It was there we would visit on fourth Sundays
To visit, sing and pray, and bring a smile their way.

I was just a little girl at that particular time,
And at first I was afraid of what we’d find.
Some poor souls were left there to waste,
Or until the Lord would call them to the GATE.

As time went by I learned to love our calls,
They were so much like me and again not at all.
I would give them a hug and maybe sing a song
It seemed to make them happy to see me come along.

There was one man that I will always remember
He stood out from all the rest, like a pile of timber.
Yes a strapping man he was but feeble was his mind.
They all called him Tojo, and he was so kind.

Every Sunday we would come, he would want a hug.
And if I pretended not to see him, I would feel a tug.
He was so funny, and such a kindly old man to me
So we would sing together, he was happy as could be.

The months rolled by, and turned into years
And Tojo wandered off one day, it brought me tears.
It was dead of winter and he decided to take a walk
But no one knew he was gone, until they heard the talk.

“Where is Tojo ?“ the old ones began to ask
So at last they called for help to start the task
To find him safe and sound was the plan
But it had been too long, no one could take his hand.

They found him lying cold about a mile away,
My heart was saddened by the end of that day,
I knew that God had sent an angel to take Tojo home
And that he was singing perfectly for the first time known.

Well more years have gone by, the county home is gone.
But just by chance, they named the road after the home.
That road is where I live now for over twenty years,
Near the spot where Tojo and I met and overcame my fears.

He taught me a valuable lesson to carry through life,
To love and be good to whomever you can, and be wise
Never take for granted the gifts given by OUR LORD
Always give Him the praise, and live by the SWORD.

Shirley Barr©
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Ephesians 6:13, 17
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in, the evil day,
and having done all, to stand. And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.