When I noticed an elderly couple walking with slow
and halting steps across the church parking lot, I thought about what an effort
they must have made in order to attend the Wednesday night service. Since my
mother-in-law and I reached our seats inside the sanctuary several minutes
before they did, I watched as they slowly seated themselves on a pew in front of
us.
As the congregation stood to sing a hymn, I noticed that she tenderly placed her
arm around her husband’s waist. They continued to stand side-by-side during the
singing. Though strangers to me, they so intrigued me that I found it difficult
to concentrate on the words of the song.
Later in the service, when the minister mentioned how glad he was to see them,
the lady took that opportunity to give a brief update regarding their health.
Rising slowly to her feet, she said, “I did have a light heart attack due to
having a 95% blockage, but the doctor’s not going to take my yard work
completely away.”
After taking time out to smile at the congregation, she continued, “It’s so good
to be back and to be greeted by so many people. My heart just bubbles over.”
Then she shifted the subject to her husband. “He’s getting weaker. I don’t know
what we’ll do.”
Her husband quickly interjected, “We’re gonna make it!”
Unanswered questions ran through my mind. Did they have children to take care of
them? What kind of help did they need? How long would they be able to be out and
about? How long before their deteriorating bodies forced them to remain inside
their home or move to either an assisted living environment or a nursing home in
order to receive the care they needed?
After she sat down, her husband gently placed his arm around her shoulders. As
they listened attentively to the minister, I smiled, happy to know that age had
not diminished their sincere affection for each other!
They made such a sweet pair as she sat within the wrap of his left arm. Both
wore glasses. Both had snow-white hair and wrinkled, saggy skin. Although age,
accompanied by declining health, had changed their bodies, it had not changed
their love for one another.
All during the time I’d been thinking about the elderly couple, I’d also been
listening to the minister’s message, so I noticed when he suddenly made a slight
shift in his subject and began to read some of the many commands (in the Bible)
to love one another. One verse in particular stuck in my mind: “Love each other
with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10,
NLT). It stuck because I had a beautiful word picture of that right before my
eyes.
As I reflected on that kind of tender love, I thought about what the Bible says
(in Romans 8: 35-39) about the love Christ has for us, a love that lasts no
matter how tough the circumstances. Just as nothing—not even the most serious
difficulties and calamities—can ever separate us from Christ’s love for us,
neither should problems separate us from our love for one another.
Blessed, indeed, are those who give and receive that kind of genuine, lasting
love.
©2008 by Johnnie Ann Gaskill
jgaskill@charter.net
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