I want to share with you a beautiful poem entitled, "This Special Place". It was written by Ted Tharaldson. Ted was originally from Moorhead. For retirement they built a year around home on Big McDonald Lake. Ted and his wife, Clara are now living in "This Special Place". That Special Place is none other than the Perham Nursing Home.
Following is that poem, that tells you how Ted and Clara feel about living there.
This Special Place
The Lord above has blessed us.
And put us where we are
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The keys are in the office
They are kept there in a jar.
The food here is special
For folks just like us.
No reason to complain
or even make a fuss.
So count our blessings
one and all.
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And thank the Lord
For putting us
In the special place we are.
My wife is in "this Special Place,"
So I spend a lot of time there.
Ted and I sing hymns and songs at the supper table, for he's a singer too. I've gotten to know Ted real good and we've both been amazed many times when we see the care given by the nurses and aids. We have talked many times about the love and care they give the residents, and I fully agree with what he said in his poem.
It was good to see about 500 people show up for the open house. You saw the beauty of the building, but add to that the beauty of the care given to the residents and you have a home like feeling. With the family unit system and the family size, but spacious dining hall, it most certainly is like a family. When I watch the tender, loving care that the nurses and aids give to my wife, it's more like a mother and daughter feeling. And now with the chapel with the beautiful, stained glass windows and that whole new area, it's going to add much to that home feeling. And when spring comes and all the beautiful flowers bloom in that spacious area outside.
All this makes it easy to say, like in the poem, "thank the Lord for putting us in this special place we are."
