"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.

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.

My Prayer Life - Part 4 - "Colorado Prayers"

Part 4:

After our first son was born we moved to Colorado to farm. We had made a good crop that first year in Texas so we thought we'd strike out on our own. We had $5,000 in the bank, an old car and a beautiful little son. What more could anyone ask for? The world was ours, and so out into the world we went.

We moved out on the farm and attended church a time or two, but as I've heard many times since, "They were not friendly," so we didn't go back. We went hunting on Sunday afternoons with friends who were not Christian, and we usually ended up going to the show that night.

I used to love to listen on the radio to Don McNeil on the "Breakfast Club" each morning as I washed dishes. If you've ever listened to this you know that at one time during his program he paused for silent prayer. "Each in his own words, each in his own way, bow your heads and let us pray." Then soft music played for about a minute. Now it had been an awful long time since I had prayed....Things had been going smoothly...no problems....plenty of money...a good husband and a fine son....What was there to pray about? I found myself at these moments in his program finding something to do in the other part of the house. I soon became so uncomfortable at the time I almost wanted to turn it off, but I loved the rest of the program, so it would be over in a little while.

I remember one morning as I was in the middle of the dish pan and this time of prayer came on, and I stopped and broke into tears and said, "Oh, Lord, forgive me!" That was about all I could get out that day, but in days to come I would stop and close my eyes and pour out my heart a little at a time. One day my little boy tugged at my dress an said, "Mommy, you pray?" and I gathered him in my arms and said, "Yes, darling, I pray."

Danny Wayne

Danny & Me

I had quite a prayer experience with the Lord that week as my empty soul came back to life and I said, "Lord, if You will but let me live until Sunday, I will go to church, publicly rededicate my life to You, and try to serve You. I could hardly wait until Sunday. I was afraid I'd loose my nerve, I guess, but I didn't tell my husband a thing about this because he might not understand. Then at church, when the invitation was given, I found myself down at the front telling the Lord and the preacher I was coming back and I wanted to serve Him from that day forward. Do you know what those "unfriendly" people of that church did? The came down and loved me and rejoiced with me! One fine Christian lady said, "Would you help me with the Primary? We need you so much." Happy!! I have never felt such a burden lifted and as I drove the ten miles home to share my happiness with my husband, I sang, "My Jesus I Love You" and many more songs of praise with a heart of joy I could never forget. I'm sure that was one of the first of many times that "my cup ran over!"

When I got home, these friends* were there for lunch. They had hardly heard the name of Christ, except in vain, so they didn't understand what I told them. I told them of my promise to serve the Lord and that from here on I was going to quit going to the show on Sunday night and instead go to church. They didn't understand "salvation" much less "re-dedication" so the devil began his work. We ate lunch and got in their car and went hunting, and then drove to town for a hamburger, and then, by the force of habit, went right over to the show. "Hadn't they heard what I had said? Didn't Curtis understand what had happened to me? Were we deliberately going to the show after I told them my promise to the Lord??" But the devil said, "Don't say anything. You might make them mad or hurt their feelings." So I went in. Oh, I felt so terrible just deliberately doing what I had just promised my Lord I wouldn't do! I sat down and looked up at "Ma Kettle" in her dirty dress and sloppy clothes and I felt just like that in my soul. I picked my little boy up and got out of there as fast as I could. We got in the car and rode 'round and 'round the church and I cried, but I didn't go in. I went back and parked in front of the show and waited until it was over. When my  husband came out he knew I had meant business with the Lord and he ever asked me to go to the show on Sunday night again. He began to go to church with me and grow along with me. I have never seen "Ma Kettle - Marjorie Main" that it doesn't bring back this experience to me.

It made me realize that in the moment we are having our greatest victory with the Lord, the devil stands ready to jump between and try with his might to come between you and the Lord. He can succeed many times if you do not "pray without ceasing." Prayer changes things. Yes it does!! From that time forward I began to work with Primary boys and girls. I began to learn Bible stories and found the the Lord could tell those stories through me so exciting. I learned more teaching the boys and girls than they did!

*I witnessed many times to these friends about Jesus, but they were never saved. They were killed in a plane crash later and I was so sad.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "Saying Grace"

My Prayer Life - Part 3 - "Early Marriage"

Part 3:

After I was married we went through a trying time of adjustment. It had been nearly three years since we had seen each other, (Curtis was gone overseas for WWII) and we had both gone with other people while he was gone by mutual consent.

After we married he got some letters from a girl and she didn't know he was married. He let me read them. Oh, I became so insanely jealous I was sick. I didn't let him know I was, but it ate at me constantly. I could not relax in his arms at night wondering if he might be wishing it were her. Finally, I got in such a state of mind I had nowhere to turn. I couldn't dare talk to anyone about it for my pride's sake. One day I fell down before the Lord and poured out my heart. You see, after God had answered my prayers and brought this man home safely to me, I had forgotten about God. I had forgotten the many times I had trusted him and He had never let me down. I said, "Lord, I do not know if Curtis loves this other girl or not. I have imagined all sorts of things and I am sick with jealousy. I know that is a sin and it is ruining my life. Take this terrible disease from me and help me to be the kind of loving wife that he needs." I cried before the Lord a long time. That night when we went to bed I opened my heart to my husband and told him my fears--my sin of jealousy and asked him to help me. He had not realized what was wrong with me and he laughed and took me in his arms and assured me of his love for me---and, oh, the burden was gone, and joy and happiness came rushing in. It was the beginning of our "good marriage" because we told each other we should always talk these things out instead of keeping them to ourselves where they grow bigger by the day.

Read my next entry - "Colorado Prayers"

My Prayer Life - Part 1 - "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep"

The following is a lengthy account of my most memorable, life-changing prayers, from the 1930s to the 1970s. I will publish it in several parts.

Part 1:

My first recollection of learning to pray was when I was a very small child. When my mother put me to bed she had me kneel and taught me to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
                                                                                     

                                              

Gertie - age 4 - 1928

     

I have mixed emotions about this prayer. It taught me to pray---it placed in my heart and mind the knowledge that we are in God's hands for keeping---but it gave me a disturbed feeling that I carried through my teen years. I was afraid to go to sleep at night without first asking my heavenly Father to watch over me and keep me through the night. 

                     

Gertie - age 5 - about 1929

As I grew older I branched out on this simple prayer and told God many things and asked many things before I closed my eyes in sleep--feeling much relieved and secure after having talked with the Lord. I remember in those "pillow prayers," (as I soon gave up the kneeling by my bed except for special prayers when I felt the Lord so close), I remember praying, asking God to guide me to the right person for my husband. I said, "Lord, help me to know the one you have for me and then help us to have a happy home." That must have been when I was about 15 years old because by the time I was 16 the Lord had answered that prayer. One Sunday morning as I was singing in the choir I noticed this dark, handsome stranger on the back seat. My heart did a little extra beat, but I didn't think too much about it. I kept seeing him there for several Sundays, but I had never mentioned him to anyone. I had not even asked who he was. One night as I was with another boy whom I had been dating a lot, he asked me if I would "go steady" with him. Immediately this stranger came into my mind and I knew if I ever met him and he asked me to go with him I could not refuse, so I told my friend that I was not ready to go steady. "Is there someone else?" he asked. And I truthfully said, "No."

Age 15 - 1939

The next Sunday as I saw him come in dressed in a new tailor made suit, I could wait no longer. I punched the girl next to me and said, "Who is that new boy on the back seat?" She said, "He is my cousin and he wants to meet you." Oh--my heart just sang as we sang that day. After church we bashfully were introduced and that afternoon he asked me to go for a ride with him and some other young people. I knew from the first meeting we both knew that we had found our future, even though it was several years before we became serious enough to make plans. And only then, when the war came in 1941, Dec. 7th, we heard the news on the car radio, and he began to sing "Good-bye Little Darling, I'm Leaving...."

Sure enough, his was the first number drawn for the draft and he was off. My memory is very clear on my prayer life again as I feared now to go to sleep without asking God to keep not only me, but most of all Curtis and Doug, my brother. Only as I prayed and then in my simple faith I left them in God's care for a whole 24 hours and didn't worry.

My dear Curtis - 1942-1945

God answered those prayers and brought back to my parents their son and future son-in-law. We had to wait three whole days before we could be married to live happily ever after.

August 30, 1945

To read a poem I wrote to Curtis before he left for the war click here.
Next entry of my prayer journey - "Praying with Mama"