Angels

(Written for the Aunts - my Dad's sisters, during the time we were caring for Dad before he died)

Angels

Each day seemed so long, as we watched the one who had always been our pillar of strength, prepare to leave us.

Oh yes, a priceless privilege  for us to give back, in some small way, a portion of what he had given us so many times.

We wanted desperately to hang on to each precious moment, yet with great empathy we watched him struggle with the changes in himself.

We were untrained in the medical profession, but he had trained us well in the profession of love, and so we were qualified

Yet still, each moment, our task weighed heavy on our tender hearts.

 . . . . . And then, through the door would walk our Angels.

So much like him that just seeing them brought solace and sweet memories.

Sometimes they brought in his favorite foods, like rice pudding or cabbage slaw.  They knew all the things that made him happy.

Sometimes they shared stories - news of the present day and the joys of happy days gone by

Sometimes they would sing with him, and when he stopped singing, they sang to him.

And always, they brought hugs - hugs for him and hugs for us.  And always they smiled, and comforted our aching hearts.

And so we would watch for our angels and wait anxiously for them to walk through the door, because when they did, it felt like heaven.