I keep getting sweet reminders recently how precious life is. I spent the afternoon with 3 elderly men, all in their 90’s. Each of them unique and special in their own way.
One in particular, was describing his love that he had lost fairly recently. They were married nearly 70 years and he shared how much he missed her and the life that they shared together. Traveling to far away places and being of service to many people.
We both shed a few tears as he shared his beautiful love story and I was reminded of the profound love that I share with own life partner. Our love story does not span as many decades, but feeling that depth of love, touches me deeply. I sit in a moment of gratitude to know a similar love myself.
We chuckled about how he couldn’t remember what he had for breakfast that morning but he could recall stories about the crops his father raised in the midwest as a child and the taste of his mothers homemade biscuits and jam on cold mornings growing up. He held those tears in his eyes but they again found their way down his cheeks.
I am always humbled when someone shares such intimate details about their life. I am a stranger entering their world at a very difficult time, yet there seems to be an unspoken rule that we are both safe to share our personal truth and vulnerabilities. I know that someday I will have to trust my caregivers to hold space and allow tears and fears to be released as my time here on earth comes to an end. Whenever that might be…Grateful for each day that I have today. Each day, each moment, each breath…. Just seems so much sweeter lately.
We never know how much time we have here on this beautiful planet. Perhaps we are all just a bit more conscious about just how precious life is as we are drawing a collective breath of relief as COVID seems to be loosening its grip on those we love.
I love this quote that I read recently “Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there is great love” author unknown.
I bow in gratitude to those who have bravely lived and died before me. I hope that I can walk a bit more softly on this planet with as much grace as those who are shining their light brightly guiding us all home.
Hugs,
Christine