A Holy Kiss

“Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16)

When I arrived, I sat on his bed and held his hand. His eyes were distant. As I called his name, he slowly looked my way. There it was that sweet precious smile I had come to love over these past months.

“Hi my love,” I said. In a frail voice, my patient said, ‘Hi darling” back to me.

This past week had been a tough week for my patient. He was declining quickly. I had told his son to call the family home, it would not be long now. Their daddy would be soon joining their momma and little brother in Heaven.

As I dropped my hand from his, he knew and I knew the sacredness of that moment. It was as if the pedals of his flower were dropping one by one or as the sand of an hourglass ticking the time away. Only now tomorrow had become today. His time had come and we both knew it.

For in this hope born out of suffering we could ask Father Time to wait, wait another day or to wait for our Savior but just days before he had whispered to me, “I’m so tired and I’m ready to go home.” So why ask for something that bares the self-affliction of agony for a few more days at the expense of his soul. He thought better over the days. And he let go.

So as I was about to leave, I knew this time was different, I knew this was going to be my last visit with him here on earth. I kissed him and said, “I will see you again and I love you.” And he turned to look at me with his fragile eyes and said, “Yes, we will” and smiled.

Holding. Waiting. Knowing. Watching for our Savior. Something we all do, is it not? And so did my little man in his last hours. He was at such peace.

What an incredible gift our Savior gives us.

A short time later the phone call came from his son….”Connie, Dad is gone…”…. and my mind wondered to our last “holy kiss” and our last words, “I will see you again…”

Yes, this was a blessed sacred moment in time. One to hold close to my heart in my journey of life, a little red heart given to me by my Savior.

For one day, we shall all be one…..