My Little Wartime Bible by Stan Fagerstrom

[Jennie@ifish]

Stan sent me this poem. I absolutely adore it. With Memorial Day nearly here, I thought it most appropriate.
Jen

My Little Wartime Bible

My mother gave it to me
It now seems so long ago
As I sailed off to fight a war
She wanted me to know

That what this little book contains
Means more than words can tell
Because this little book you see
Helped me walk right through hell

The book is a tiny bible
With a cover made of steel
I carried it into combat
And always I could feel

That somehow the words of Jesus
That this little book contains
Are enough to keep me going
When even little hope remains

This bible's metal cover
Did not deflect a bullet's sting
But I soon came to realize
That this wasn't everything

Because what this bible told me then
It still says to me this day
That if I'll call on Jesus
He'll be there night and day

This bible crossed the sea with me
To New Guinea's shell pocked shore
And through the Dutch East Indies
To the Philippines and more

There wasn't much that I could carry
When they finally brought me back
On a stretcher in a crowded plane
No luggage could I pack












But this bible was there with me
Always close enough to reach
With its wondrous words of wisdom
With the lessons it can teach

I still have this little bible
In my office here at home
And I guess that its just being here
Is the reason for this poem

Because I can't see this little bible
Without facing the plain fact
I've not always followed its advice
As through life I've left my track

Soon I’ll give it to my son
Along with my prayer he will
Accept its words of wisdom
And the joys it can instill

My mother's wish was much the same
When she gave this book to me
For she was looking down the road
Farther than the eye can see

Perhaps she knew that someday
I'd want my son to share
The words this little book contain
With which none other can compare

So take my little bible son
And please handle it with care
Keep it so that you one day
Might have a chance to share

Its message filled with hope and love
That Jesus came to teach
To simply place the things that count
For all who hear to reach

And I hope that maybe someday
It might just make you glad
When you say to your own loved ones
This bible came from Dad

Stan Fagerstrom