The Last Supper

We have been blessed the past week with so many wonderful memories that will be cherished forever. Having all of the kids home has made the challenging days so much easier. They have been able to spend one-on-one time with Glenn, keeping him company and as he likes to say, "Chattin me up!" He is very weak and his speech is very labored. Although he still loves a good conversation, he now listens more than he talks. I think for some it may be the first time they actually have been able to address their full opinion!

Several nights ago we were getting ready for dinner. Having dinner together as a family has always been an important ritual for our family. When the kids were home we made great efforts to have family dinner together every night. It was a time for all of us to connect at the end of the day and share our day. This particular night, as each person was completing their duties, the table was set and the dinner was ready to be served. Each person had taken their place, places that had been marked decades before, now with leaves added to the table and chairs filled in for spouses and the next generation of children, but we each still had "our" place. We then brought Glenn in to take his place. His place at the head of our table, the head of our home, and the head of our family.

The meal was delicious, the conversations just as appetizing, and the feeling of normalcy delectable. We had our family, and we had everything.

As the kids began clearing the table and cleaning up the kitchen, removing chairs one by one, Glenn put his hand to his heart and looked at me. He said "Do you feel that?" My mind immediately raced to all of the horrific medical nightmares we have experienced the past six months. I panicked that maybe it was too much to get him out of bed, that he had been sitting for too long, that he had eaten something he shouldn't. My first response was "Are you okay? What are you feeling?" He calmly took my hand and put it with his to his heart. He said, "Can you feel that? Can you feel all of the love in this room? Everyone here has so much love for each other. You can feel all of that right here (pointing to his heart). My soul is happy and my life is so complete."

This would be the last dinner Glenn would be able to join us for.

Later that night before falling asleep we were talking about how blessed we are. We have a great life. We have been very blessed with many things. Not once have we talked about what we "own". Our conversations are about who we love, what brings us joy. What we will miss can't be purchased. When the most important thing you have is the love for each other, you cling to it with all that you have. Love makes your life complete.