Well Done

[jack10562 414]

Well done...............................

Folks, this was sent to me by a friend. I thought it was such a touching story I wanted to share it with you. Perhaps you will feel the same as I did, after reading it and pass it along to other friends and family of Law Enforcement. "Blue suitors" will understand this story and can only pray that they will also have someone to be their guide.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all,

"For the cops on my list and members of their families, you will understand

the memories. For those of you that haven't spend Thanksgiving or Christmas

working the streets, this will give you some insight into the life of a cop...

"On Christmas Eve in 1977, I learned that blessings can come disguised as

misfortune, and honor is more than just a word.

"I was riding one-man patrol on the 4x12 shift. The night was cold.

Everywhere I looked I saw reminders of the holiday: families packing their

cars with presents, beautifully decorated trees in living room windows and

roofs adorned with tiny sleighs. It all added to my holiday funk.

"The evening had been relatively quiet; there were calls for barking dogs

and a residential false burglar alarm. There was nothing to make the night

pass any quicker. I thought of my own family and sunk further into

depression.

"Shortly after 2200 hours I got a radio call to the home of an elderly,

terminally ill man. I parked my patrol car in front of a simple cape cod

style home. First aid kit in hand, I walked up the short path to the front

door. As I approached, a woman who seemed to be about 80 years old opened

the door. He's in here she said, leading me to a back bedroom.

"We passed through a living room that was furnished in a style I had come to

associate with older people. The sofa has an afghan blanket draped over it's

back and a dark, solid, Queen Anne chair sat next to an unused fireplace.

The mantle was cluttered with an eccentric mix of several photos, some

ceramic figurines and an antique clock. A floor lamp provided soft lighting.

"We entered a small bedroom where a frail looking man lay in bed with a

blanket pulled up to his chin. He wore a blank stare on his ashen, skeletal

face. His breathing was shallow and labored. He was barely alive.

"The trappings of illness lay all around his bed. The night stand was

littered with a large number of pill vials. An oxygen bottle stood nearby.

Its plastic hose, with face mask attached rested on the blanket.

"I asked the old woman why she called the police. She simply shrugged and

nodded sadly toward her husband, indicating it was his request. I looked at

him and he stared intently into my eyes. He seemed relaxed now. I didn't

understand the suddenly calm expression on his face. I looked around the

room again. A dresser stood along the wall to the left of the bed.

On it was the usual memorabilia: ornate perfume bottles, a white

porcelain pin case, and a wooden jewelry case. There were also several

photos in simple frames.

One caught my eye and I walked closer to the dresser for a closer look. The

picture showed a young man dressed in a police uniform. It was unmistakably

a photo of the man in bed. I knew then why I was there.

"I looked at the old man and he motioned with his hand toward the side of

the bed. I walked over and stood beside him. He slid a thin arm from under

the covers and took my hand. Soon, I felt his hand go limp. I looked at his

face. There was no fear there. I saw only peace.

"He knew he was dying; he was aware his time was very near. I know now that

he was afraid of what was about to happen and he wanted the protection of a

fellow cop on his journey. A caring God had seen to it that his child would

be delivered safely to him. The honor of being his escort fell to me.

"When I left at the end of my tour that night, the temperature had seemed to

have risen considerably, and all the holiday displays I saw on the way home

made me smile.

"I no longer feel sorry for myself for having to work on Christmas Eve. I

have chosen an honorable profession. I pray that when it's my turn to leave

this world here will be a cop there to hold my hand and remind me that I

have nothing to fear.

"I wish all my brothers and sisters who have to work this Christmas Eve all

the Joy and warmth of the Season .."