Darlene Jamison - The Silent Patient: A True Story

To the Readers

M y mother was a single parent who kept a tight rein on her children. Every night, when I was a little girl, my mom would make me sit down and read the Bible to me. Sometimes, I would read to her as I grew. My family was very poor, but she always managed to keep something on the table for us to eat. When I turned eleven years old, I would hang around the kitchen to learn how to cook. On most of the holidays, we would have a feast on the table. She was an excellent cook. We all were grateful for those holiday meals. When I turned twelve years old, my mom allowed me to cook meals for the entire family. This was enjoyable to me because I loved to cook. Even to this day, I still do enjoy cooking. When we had extra food, my mom would have me deliver meals to some of the neighbors that didnt have enough food to eat. So, I guess, my volunteer work began back then even though I didnt realize it. God was preparing me to do much more of His works in the future. My mother and I had a stormy relationship when I was in my teens and young adult years. I realize now that she was not perfect, as no one is, and she did the best she could.

In the last year of my mothers life, we became best friends. We spent a lot of time together when I had a family of my own. She enjoyed spending time over at my house every week. I taught her how to fish and drive a little bit. She was so proud of herself, it was written all over her face, which made me happy too. We confided in each other and learned a lot about each other. Sometimes, she would have tears in her eyes saying, I never thought I would have so much fun and go places that Ive never been before. I would look at her and say, Dont cry. Its a pleasure to see your eyes light up with joy. Little did I know that it would be the last year I would see her again. She died that year at a young age of sixty-four years old. I have one daughter and one son and grandchildren now. My mother knew and loved my children, but she never got a chance to see my future grandchildren. Im sure they would have brought her much joy as they do for me. My mom never liked to have her picture taken, but I would always sneak a few pictures every now and then. The only picture she willingly posed for is when she was saluting military style at the World War II museum. I used that picture for her obituary. It seemed appropriate since she passed away on Veterans Day.

I worked as a nurse for many years for various long-term care nursing home facilities. Later, I decided to open an art gallery but closed it after taking a tremendous financial loss. But I never gave up my love for art or writing. So I started donating art paintings to different charitable organizations to raise money for people in need.

At some facilities where I worked as a nurse, some of the employees did not like me, and they made it well-known. That didnt bother me as long as I was doing the right thing. The main reason why there was a group of staff members who didnt like me was because I pushed for professionalism and customer service for the patients, one another, visitors, and family members. I know God had me work at various long-term care facilities to spread love and to teach others the importance of these things. I did the best I could, and most importantly, I did what God wanted me to do.

I have learned a lot over the years, and now I realize that Jesus was preparing me to do certain things in life ever since I was a child. Everything happens for a reason in life. It may be good or it may be bad, and it may also condition us to do certain works and master them through Jesus Christ. No school can teach this. When God chooses us to be one of His students, this is something that no one can ever take away from us except the One who has given it to us. Youve heard that practice makes perfect, and this is true. To master something, we must continue to work at it. It is also very important to absorb knowledge and learn all that we can. Any knowledge gained is beneficial not only for yourself but for others as well.

As life unfolds itself to us, always do the best that we can. Most importantly, always make time for God and teach your earthly family about Him. Start your children out early about Him and they too will believe, and this will help guide them in a good direction in life and choices we must make in life.

To understand life, you must see it through your heart. To feel life, you must live life to its fullest. To grasp at life, you must strive for contentment. Contentment is only met through the Grace of God. Everything He does He does for a reason. You may not see the reason things happen, but eventually, when the time is right, He will let you know. Not only is it good to encourage others, sometimes, we also have to encourage ourselves too. Through my eyes and heart and through the eyes and heart of others, I paint and write what I see and feel. Thank you for purchasing this book. I hope it strengthens you, encourages you, and makes you see things as they are to be seen in life.

I was born on July 10, 1957. My childhood was that of a poor life, but somehow, my mother managed to keep all of us fed even if it was just flour mixed with water and fried. It made our stomachs full, and on some occasions, we would have meat and side dish. I remember that well cause I was the youngest in the household of six. My mother had nine children all together, but the other three were not living with us. Thats a whole story in itself. When I was six years old, my mother couldnt afford to purchase shoes for some of us. One day, on my way to school, I had on a pair of shoes that was two sizes too large for me, but that was all I had to wear, so I stuffed tissue in my shoes at the toe parts, like my sister showed me how to do it to make the shoes stay on my feet. Well, on the way to school, one of my shoes slid off my foot and I tried to catch it, but it was too late. It slid down into the sewer. All the kids laughed at me, and I was so ashamed and started crying. One little girl in my classroom said to come go home with her and shell give me a pair of her shoes. So we walked to her house (I was only wearing one shoe and held the other shoe in my hand). Upon arriving at her house, I tried on multiple pair of shoes, and none fit cause they were too small.

My friend suggested that we not go to school cause the kids would still be laughing at me, and we decided to watch cartoons, and we fell asleep. When I woke up, it was a whole hour past the time I was supposed to be home from school. I woke up my friend and rushed home wearing on socks on my feet cause I couldnt walk in only one shoe. But I was afraid to leave or throw the other shoe away. I frankly did not know what to do but to hurry home and explain why I was late and didnt go to school. By the time I arrived home, I saw my mother crying and talking to the police. She screamed, There she is! I knew I was going to be in trouble, but surely, for a six-year-old, I thought she would understand my child rationale as to what happened to me. I got a whippin, and she wasnt concerned about how I couldnt go to school with no shoes, so I thought. She must have listened though cause, in a couple of days, a lady picked me and my sister up and bought us some boy-looking shoes, and this was in the 1960s.