I ran into an acquaintance yesterday morning. Her husband
has been sick quite a while. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked her how
everyone was doing in her world.
“Hospice has been called in” she said smiling. She looked
tired but not defeated.
I told her I was sorry to hear that.
“He’s tired of fighting and his body is worn out. He even
said he thought he’s only going to be here a few more weeks. He just doesn’t
want to leave the kids and me.”
I told her I could see how he would feel that way. “As hard
as everything is now we know that heaven will be better for him. But, it’s not
like you’ve done this before. We can believe all we want yet sometimes the not
knowing part is difficult.”
She agreed and said he had read a book called Heaven.
“By Randy Alcorn?” I asked.
“Yes” she said smiling. “He said it’s really helped him.
There’s a line in there that he holds onto – Imagine being at the best party
ever and it is time to go home. You don’t want to because you are having a
great time and don’t want it to end. Once you do leave the party and head home
there’s an after party that outshines the original party beyond description.
That’s what heaven will be like.”
I know her heart is heavy and facing what is coming is not
an easy task, yet throughout our whole conversation she smiled.
I told her I’d be praying for all of them. And, I did
throughout the day and during the night last night.
Yesterday afternoon I also saw someone who I haven’t seen
for quite awhile. She has a new baby. She looked really good and was happy, yet
her eyes were tired.
“How old is he?” I asked as I looked at his scrunched up,
old man’s face. He’s so precious. Blond as blond can be and chubby cheeks with
just the right amount of fat rolls.
“Four and a half weeks.”
“Is he a good baby?” As if there could be a bad baby. She
knew I was referring to his sleeping patterns and eating and such.
“We’re still getting into a routine but so far he’s been
pretty easy.”
Those of us there cooed and fawned all over that little
wigglie bundle wrapped in the receiving blanket.
We compared a few things with her first child and we all
chimed in with our own experiences. Mom was all smiles the whole time.
“We’ll see how he turns out, but so far, so good.” She
smiled with tired eyes.
During the night as I was praying for my friend and her
husband I thought how ironic yesterday was.
I met and visited with someone who has a few more weeks
before she has to say good bye to someone she loves dearly. And, then later
that day I met someone who has just said hello a few weeks ago to someone she
loves dearly and has the rest of her life with him.
