"Still Waiting"

This was written about three weeks after Curtis passed away in 2004. Notice the * and ** that refer back to previous poems or posts.

Still Waiting

I have a wounded heart since Curtis Wayne is gone
But oh, the peace and joy to know that he's still living on

He went to be with Jesus with all his family there

We sang and told him how we loved him, and also had a prayer

*Our life together has been so sweet since he came home from war

*Our children were a blessing as God gave us, not one, or two, but four

Our dreams did unfold as 58 years passed along

The families You gave them made a happy new song

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for fulfilling our dream

I'll see him in heaven, for love was our theme

Good-bye my dear husband, your pains are all gone

And joy fills your heart and it won't be too long

And now I am waiting to be there with you

Dear Jesus, You're my husband and days won't be blue

For I know that You love me and will care for me too

Your promises sustain me when I read Your book

When my heart wants to break, within it I'll look

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me so much

You died for our sins and gave us Your touch

I'll bless You and praise You the rest of my life

I'll serve with Your church because it is Your "wife"

I pray that You'll use the message I've shared

**Because, Jesus, at Your coming I want to "Be Prepared"!!

Gertrude Murphree

3-10-04

* -- "Waiting"

** -- "Be Prepared"
To read my first blog post about my life, click HERE.

Be Prepared!

It was August, 1945, and the war was over. I knew Curtis would be coming home... sometime... and hopefully soon! We had written letters back and forth for almost three long years. We had pledged our love and plans for our future in those letters. But I didn't know when to expect him. Would he come back for me as we planned? Would we marry as soon as he returned? Could I really love someone that I only knew in letters, in pictures, on paper?? Was it right for me to get things ready for a wedding?

And then one day it came! A telegram with only two words..... "Be Prepared"!!! My beloved was coming home, and he was coming for me! I still did not know when, but I knew to be prepared for his coming. 

He did come, and we were married in my parent's home. We then left on our honeymoon to his family's home in Comanche, Texas, to celebrate his homecoming and our marriage.

I have thought about that telegram many times through the years and how it is an analogy of our watching and waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and take himself a "bride", the church, home to be with him. We don't know when He is coming, whether it be in our individual "home-goings" or at the last trumpet call, but the message is the same.... "Be Prepared!!!"

......................................................................................................................................................................

*Questions about how to be prepared? Here's a site with a simple explanation of how to trust Christ: "How to find peace with God"

Next entry: "Still Waiting"

Early Marriage
Click here to read about my life, starting with my first blog post.

Clueless

It's hard to believe it's been ten years since Curtis went to be with the Lord. February 21, 2004 he stepped across into eternity where he is in the presence of his Savior. About seven years after he died, our family received this in the mail. It seems that one of my children's friends watched Curtis' life, and it had a great impact on him. He wrote an article about Curtis in a Baptist Association news letter. In honor of Curtis and his quiet faith, I'd like to share that article.

Clueless

I want to tell you about the guy who led me to Jesus. The funny thing is he didn’t even know he did it. When I thanked him many years later, he was completely clueless about his part in it.

My father was what could be called a scoffer, a ridiculer of the Church. He loved to point out the flaws and inconsistencies in Christian’s lives and used that information as his excuse for not accepting Jesus’ claim on his life. He laughed at the Chairman of the Deacons. He heard rumors of dishonesty against that man. Dad mocked churchmen who cleaned up their language around other church folks, but cussed when they lost a domino game. Still others laughed at my father’s dirty jokes. That was alright with Dad. It just added ammunition to blast the “hypocrites” in the church. However, there was one man whom my Dad couldn’t call a phony. His name was Curtis Murphree and Dad thought he was a fool.

Curtis, like my father, was a farmer. He worked hard and played clean, but lived a “foolish” life that utterly baffled Dad. He was the same at home as he was in public. He once lost a wheat crop to a hail storm because he wouldn’t harvest on the Lord’s Day. That really bugged Dad. His life was a consistent witness to my father. When Curtis tried to tell Dad about Jesus’ sacrifice, Dad would not listen. But I did. When the 10 and 11 year old boys went to church camp, Curtis “foolishly” took time out of his farming schedule to be a camp counselor. He had prayer time with us and asked us to share our testimonies (I had none). He made sure all us boys made it to chapel on time every day, including that final day of camp, when I asked Jesus into my life.

Curtis thought it was the Camp Missionary who led me to Jesus, but nothing could be farther from the truth. For years, Curtis led me to Jesus by regularly taking time to talk to my father. Curtis led me to Jesus by taking me to church camp. Curtis led me to Jesus by modeling what a godly man could and should be to his family. Curtis led me to Jesus by consistently living a godly life that challenged my father to reconsider the validity of Christ’s Lordship in his own life. Yet, at the time, he never had a clue about the eternal impact his life was making on a child living on the fringe of the church.

Some would call Curtis Murphree a fool for spending so much time witnessing to a hardened scoffer. Personally, I don’t fault the man for not knowing who he was really influencing.

1 Peter 2:12

Author: Name Withheld

Next entry: "Be Prepared"

My Valentine - 1943

In 1943, Curtis was in WWII stationed in Santa Ana, California. I received this Valentine from him before he went off to war in Italy.

He had given me his portrait before he left, that was autographed, "Love Forever, Curtis Wayne".

For two more years all I had of him was his picture, his cards and letters, and promise of a love for a lifetime. I penciled this poem on a scrap of paper. I'm not sure if I ever sent it to him, but it's how I felt as I looked at this picture.

Love Forever

It's love forever that's written there,

It's love forever in your eyes, in your smile, everywhere

And I know that it's true

For it's written by you

In your eyes, in your smile that I love.

It says love forever

And I know it was never

Meant to die

For it's there in face, in smile, in eye

It's not only a picture, 

It's you.

To look at you means memories,

Those hours together, just two care-frees.

It was oh so much fun

Just to hold you, sweet one

In my arms and to kiss your sweet lips.

It says love forever.

Did you mean it could never

Leave our hearts?

For my dear if you do

It sure means I love you

And it's true, darling you

Just you.

by Gertrude Short

1943

Copy of penciled poem

Our love did turn out to be true. We had 59 years of sweet marriage before Curtis went to be with the Lord. I still love him so. Happy Valentine's Day!

Next entry: "Clueless"

To read about our how we met, click here.

Read about our early marriage here.