Death and Hope

I recently had the unique opportunity and privilege of observing and spending time with a 90+ year old man and his wife during the last few hours of her life. I watched as he visited with and spoke via telephone with his loving children and grandchildren. I listened to stories from his life and gleaned pearls of wisdom from his many years of living.
I was the sole witness of hearing what was probably his last goodbye to his dear, sweet wife in this life. I heard the tender words he spoke to her about being parted only for a short time. Words he whispered to his love--words of life eternal.

I can only hope to one day feel the way this man felt towards his wife as she lay dying after 70 years they spent together in marriage. The feelings in the little hospice apartment were not of death, decay, sickness and sorrow, but of hope, faith, love, and a knowledge that the parting would be brief.