Love

These are my grandparents. I call them mom and dad. (long story) Aren't they cute?! He is 92 and she is 89.

Look how bitty mom is. See how handsome dad is. They met when they were teens. She is from a wealthy family, her father was a doctor. His father was an umpire for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. Dad was young and strong, with a full head of black hair and piercing blue eyes. Mom was petite and beautiful and full of fire. There was a picture shown at the reunion of them together as a newly married couple. He was cradling her in his arms as they smiled into each other's eyes. It's a beautiful portrait of the way they still are today, almost 70 years later.

His hair is now grey and thinning, his body not as strong as it once was. She is still tiny, but now she's frail and her body is failing her. They still share a love that defies what the world sees as commitment today.

This weekend I watched them with mixed emotion. I watched with pride and joy to see them together. As well as supreme sadness, knowing she will not be with us much longer.

Her body is failing her, she cannot see well, and she doesn't remember much past the last 2 or 3 minutes. She sure knows who dad is though. She opens her eyes and searches for him. She sits next to him and anchors herself to him by holding his hand. Every so often she will look his way lovingly, smile, and say "I love you".

He can't hear her, but he smiles just the same and squeezes her hand.

If he could lift her in his arms and cradle her today, he would. I see his frustration as he knows he's not able to do for her what he used to... or wants to. He picks up his cane, and steadies her as they move from place to place. He prepares her medicine and makes her coffee just the way she likes it. He reminds her to eat, and take a sip of juice, he answers the same question 100 times over because she has forgotten the answer.

They are love. They have shown their 6 children, 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and numerous in-laws what it means to love and be loved.

My D holding mom's hand at the table. While her mind is failing her, she knows who we all are...and she loves my D. They sat at the table for about an hour just holding hands. Makes me love him all the more to know he's willing to just sit and hold her hand.

Observing the activities around them...

Relaxing ...notice she's now holding my aunt's hand.
S, came over to love on them. Mom immediately reached up to hold on to her and S just stayed in that position until it was time to get up for dinner. She loves her GG (great grandma) and PapPap.
This is a small representation of what their love has produced.

I pray that when D and I are old and frail, that we are still sitting on the front porch together, surrounded by our children and grandchildren, observing the gift that God has given us.