“Your turn is next,” my sixth-grade teacher said as we stood inline at the water fountain.

The Army recruiter said, “your turn” at the draft board as the Vietnam war raged on.

Some 20-25 years ago, the concept of “your turn” surfaced as I was serving as president of the Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation and we were attempting to do a building remodeling project.

My task was to speak with several local organizations in the community and gather support for the project. Essentially, I was asking folks to follow in the footsteps of the past citizens who built Hillcrest and take their turn at making improvements. 

A few years prior to that, I had written a short story about my daughter and thought it may help make my point about the circle of life and how we must be ready to take our turn to help when needed.

I share that story with you now as our area has multiple needs and the McCook Community Foundation Fund is here to help meet those needs:

“The White Teddy Bear”

The shadows of the tree outside the window blended into the hundreds of little rainbows on the wallpaper of her room. She had a lingering cold and it wasn’t often that she cried and wanted dad to hold her until she fell asleep.

Only four years old and she already changed his life forever. Her little arm clutched the next of her white teddy bear who fur was slightly smudged and was showing signs of thousands of hubs and much love.

In that quiet darkness, his thoughts returned to the times that had passed.

He remembered how he helped teach her to eat. How he lovingly secured her in her little highchair. How he cut her food into bite-sized pieces. He recalled the little spills and the drooling. He could still feel his steadying hand as he helped her learn how to walk. He recalled her call from the bathroom, “come wipe me.”

He kissed her forehead as a tear rolled off his cheek and was absorbed by the pillowcase as he watched her drift off to sleep.

The sun shone brightly through the venetian blinds. 

He blinked his eyes. 

She was now grown, standing beside his bed. She lowered the guardrail, cranked down his legs, placed one arm around his back and helped him sit up. 

“The nurse brought your lunch dad,” she said. “I have already cut it up for you.”

She held the clear plastic water glass and placed the straw to his lips. Little pieces of Kleenex stuck to the gray stubble as she wiped the dribbles from his chin.

His eyes gazed across the room to the bathroom door. She moved the walker to the bed and held his elbow as he shuffled across the room. Moments later came the soft garbled call, “come wipe me.”

After she helped him back to bed, she said, “Dad, I brought you a surprise.”

From a brown grocery sack, she gently pulled a white teddy bear whose fur was slightly smudged and showed signs of thousands of hugs and much love.

She placed it in his thin frail arms and kissed his forehead. A tear rolled off her cheek and was absorbed by the pillowcase as she watched him drift off to sleep.

Life is a circle. Seasons come and go. Years roll by. The McCook Community Foundation Fund is here to help our community grow and prosper. To make that happen, we need your help in time, treasure and talent. Now is the time - it’s your turn.