Editor, Gazette-Journal:

 

When I was young, eighteen was fun,

I moved out on the street. I had no cares, not a single one.

 

I was blessed with summer’s heat.

 

To tell the truth, I had shed roof, but that was all I had.

 

The smile upon my dirty face was proof I was glad.

 

But now that I am getting old, I just can’t take the bitter cold.

 

My hands will hurt, can’t wear enough shirts. I freeze down to my soul.

But God has blessed me with a home, a warm, dry, sturdy dome;

A place to shut out wind and rain, to hide from cold that causes pain.

 

Has God blessed you the same as me or is your home a leafless tree?

 

As you’ve been given so should you give,

For others have no place to live.

 

God is good, God is great,

May you be the same and do not wait.

 

For one day you may end up poor,

And wind up knocking on someone’s door.

 

Your door bell rings that of your heart,

Please heed the call and do your part.

 

A helping hand is what they need,

 

A warm, dry bed, a little feed.

You can lend a helping hand.

 

No cowboy up, be a (wo)man

It may be an angel in disguise,

Or Christ Himself who looks in your eyes.

 

Give your love with hands and feet,

To help the ones whose ends don’t meet.

 

And God will bless you one hundred fold,

With His great love, worth more than gold.

 

To make a financial donation to GUEST (the Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team), contact the Rev. Sven vanBaars at 693-3035; volunteers should contact Debra Jo Jenkins at 

757-759-7997.

 

In reference to Paul Vanden Bout asking whether frequent writers to Readers Write are paid staff members (“Undeclared staff writers?,” Dec. 26 Readers Write); speaking for myself, the Gazette-Journal does not pay me for what I write, but the blessings God sends my way are out of this world!

 

Joel Emerson

Hayes, Va.