The older we get, the simpler life becomes. A close loved one of mine recently found out she has stage 3 cancer. She is bright and highly educated but none of that helps her get through her days.
The older we get, the simpler life becomes. A close loved one of mine recently found out she has stage 3 cancer. She is bright and highly educated but none of that helps her get through her days. Having a loved one with her will. And when my father-in-law, a retired physician, lay on his death bed he said that Jesus loved him and that’s all he needed to know. He was a brilliant man. I do believe that simplicity is born from great wisdom and wisdom is born from pain. Both of these folks have born their share of pain.
Last year was one of the most difficult of my life. Until then, I confess, I lived in awful fear. I believed that I couldn’t live without a certain loved one and I was terrified what would happen when she died. Most of us have at least one person in our lives who fits that bill. We fear their death, but mostly we fear for ourselves without them. Enduring the grief of last year forced me to give up many of my fears because I have learned that, yes, I can survive. We can survive the loss of a spouse, a child, a home, a job, you name it because we are a stalwart lot of creatures who need one or two others.
My father-in-law wanted Jesus as he died. All of his medical knowledge became irrelevant (almost trite) and he wanted to see his Lord. My loved one with cancer needs support, care and love to make it until another day. I have learned that what I really need to survive painful days is very simple- the presence of someone who loves me. That’s it. And since I have no illusions that I am unique, I think that’s what we all need when life beats us up. The presence of a loved one, or two, if we’re lucky.