As I entered the Honda dealership waiting area, I felt a bit annoyed since I had been in the same waiting area the day before to get my vehicle worked on.
"Good thing I have my headphones, phone, and a 440z cup of Coke with crushed ice"...were my thoughts. I wasted about an hour checking my Facebook, emails, and Googling stuff on my phone. I paused for a moment to check out my surroundings. I must admit, I enjoy people watching.
Across from me sat an elderly couple in their seventies. The wife sat staring at a blank wall...it seemed as if she were in a different world. "What must she be thinking.." were my thoughts. Her lips would curve into a smile, then she would proceed to go into her blank stare mode. Her expressions were mesmerizing...one moment she was happy, the next she off someplace else.
I glanced over at her husband to see what he was doing. He was reading the paper, but would often look down at his watch. He would occasionally look over at his wife, say a few words, get out a handkerchief and tenderly dab the corners of her mouth and chin. The way he watched her and cared for her made me feel emotional. I felt as if I was witnessing something special, something sacred.
I turned away and felt tears escape my eyes...
At one point, the husband got up and told his wife that he would be back and not to move. I gathered that that was what he was telling her in Spanish mixed in with some other language. I felt a need to watch her...to keep safe until her husband returned. She looked over at me and smiled...I smiled back. Her husband arrived a few minutes later and had a cup of coffee. He spoke to her in their native tongue then gently put the cup to her lips.... He was so careful and gentle whenever they interacted... She made a sudden movement and some coffee spilled onto her lap. He seemed to panic, our eyes made contact, and off I went to look for napkins. I quickly brought them to him and he thanked me numerous times.
I finally had the nerve to talk to him...the nagging feeling kept telling to do so...as I spoke to the gentleman, the wife would smile at me each time we'd make eye contact. I cannot express in words the experience or feelings I was having....I felt as if she were thanking me for talking to her companion.
He told me that his wife suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer's. My heart sank.
"Oh." was all my mind could come up with at the time.
We spoke for about 20 minutes, then my Service advisor came to tell me my vehicle was ready. I said my goodbyes and off I went to get my car.
When I got into my vehicle a wave emotion came over me. I was grateful that I was able to witness the pure love of Christ being administered to this wife...a daughter of
God....This husband never seemed frustrated nor did he ever seem upset with her....
We never imagine that these bodies we have been given, can become soo ill that we would be unable to care for ourselves. This man took his marriage covenant seriously..
.in sickness and in health...til death do us part....This made me think of the covenants I made when I got married....I'm not married for just this time I have here on earth...I'm married for
time and all eternity...death cannot tear me from my husband nor my family...
I feel a sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to witness this sacred, yet humbling experience. I will forever remember this....
