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It Is
Not Enough To Know The Facts Of Salvation,
We Must Know
The Savior.
A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE
One of our favorite patients had been in and out of
our
small, rural hospital several times,
and
all of us on med-surg had grown quite attached
to her
and her husband.
In spite of terminal cancer and
resulting pain,
she never failed to give us a smile or
a hug.
Whenever her husband came to visit, she
glowed.
He was a nice man, very polite and as friendly
as his wife.
I had grown quite attached to
them
and was always glad to care for
her.
I admired their expression of
love.
Daily, he brought her fresh flowers and a
smile,
then sat by her bed as they held hands and
talked quietly.
When the pain was too much and she
cried or became confused,
he hugged her gently in his
arms and whispered until she rested.
He spent every
available moment at her bedside,
giving her small sips
of water and stroking her brow.
Every night, before he
left for home,
he closed the door so they could spend
time alone together.
When he was gone, we'd find her
sleeping peacefully
with a smile on her
lips.
On this night, however, things were
different.
As soon as I entered report, the day nurses
informed us
she had steadily taken a turn for the
worse
and wouldn't make it through the
night.
Although I was sad, I knew that this was for the
best.
At least my friend wouldn't be in pain any
longer.
I left report and checked on her
first.
When I entered the room, she aroused and smiled
weakly,
but her breathing was labored and I could tell
it wouldn't be long.
Her husband sat beside her,
smiling, too, and said,
"My Love is finally going to
get her reward."
Tears came to my eyes,
so
I asked if they needed anything and left quickly.
I
offered care and comfort throughout the evening,
and at
about midnight she passed away
with her husband still
holding her hand.
I consoled him and with tears running
down his cheeks he said,
"May I please be alone with
her for a while?"
I hugged him and closed the door
behind me.
I stood outside the room, blotting my
tears
and missing my friend and her smile.
And
I could feel the pain of her husband in my own
heart.
Suddenly from the room came the most beautiful
male voice
I have ever heard singing.
It was
almost haunting the way it floated through the
halls.
All of the other nurses stepped out into the
hallways to listen
as he sang "Beautiful Brown Eyes" at the
top of his lungs.
When the tune faded, the door
opened and he called to me.
He looked me in the eyes
then hugged me saying,
"I sang that song to her every
night from the first day we met.
Normally I close the
door and keep my voice down
so as not to disturb the
other patients.
But I had to make sure she heard me
tonight
as she was on her way to heaven.
She
had to know that she will always be my forever
love.
Please apologize to anyone I bothered.
I
just don't know how I will make it without her,
but I
will continue to sing to her every night.
Do you think
she will hear me?"
I nodded my head "yes," unable
to stop my tears.
He hugged me again, kissed my
cheek,
and thanked me for being their nurse and
friend.
He thanked the other nurses, then turned and
walked down the hall,
his back hunched, whistling the
song softly as he went.
As I watched him leave I
prayed that I, too,
would someday know that kind of
forever love. By Christy M.
Martin
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