The bond between husband and wife can be one of the strongest connections we experience. This is especially true for couples that have been together for a number of years. Living with someone day in and day out provides the perfect opportunity to discover their true nature. Through all of life’s ups and downs it is impossible to hide who you truly are. Many couples become so close they can seemingly read each others thoughts and can intuitively anticipate the other person’s needs. Because of this tie our spouse so often becomes our best friend. They are one of the few people that know us inside and out and the mere fact that they have remained with us has, over the test of time, proven that their love is genuine.
Joe and Sue enjoyed just such a relationship. The trust and dependency on one another that had developed over the years was the biggest reason her cancer had been such a devastating blow. Joe wasn’t ready to lose his best friend and love of his life. For so long Sue had been the one to stand by him. She was his moral support, his guiding light and he lived solely to care for her and keep her happy. In Joe’s eyes, his wife deserved the best but this horrible intruder in their lives was something not even he could protect her from.
After learning of her diagnosis they spent as much time as possible together. Oftentimes they talked about what was going to happen and Sue tried as best she could to reassure him that he would be just fine. She knew what inner strength her husband possessed, she just had to figure out a way for him to find it. During one of their conversations a short time before she passed, Joe was feeling particularly down and began questioning God as to why his wife had to suffer. He felt like it should have been him. Attempting to justify his belief he quickly explained how she was younger, more beautiful, and still had so much to live for. He also cited many reasons why all of this was wrong and unfair. Sadly, his heart begged for understanding. With a compassionate smile Sue looked into his eyes and said, “There are still things you need to do here. I don’t know what, but He will know.” Sue’s gentle answer reflected her belief that God had a purpose for everything, including this.
Joe tried to understand the message his wife had tried to convey but nearly a month after Sue had passed he still struggled with accepting her loss. The gentle words she spoke echoed repeatedly in his head. With some sense of guilt at not being able to save her, he questioned why he was still here and she was gone. Once before he had found peace and comfort on a soul-searching trip taken immediately after Sue passed. He thought, perhaps a ride would help now as well. Being on his Harley seemed to remove all the pressures and strain from his daily routine. It was an opportunity to find that inner strength he possessed within himself.
So, off Joe cruised with nothing but nature and his thoughts to keep him company. As he pondered what he was going to do with what was left of his life he was startled by a very clear voice. It was a voice he easily recognized. Sue chastised him in a very loving but firm voice, “Look, I’m dead, you’re not! Move on!” Her instructions came with such strength and authority and Joe knew from past experience that he better listen. He tried to join Sue in her belief that God still had something planned for him. He was old enough to know that he couldn’t let grief and pity take control of his life. Once again he embraced his wife’s presence and gained strength and focus from her words.
Four days after Joe’s ride he was walking into their kitchen. Standing against one wall loomed a red hutch with knick-knacks decorating its shelves. He immediately chuckled as he recalled how Sue always referred to it as “the red thing.” Then something caught his eye. One picture frame in particular was tipped over. He thought that was strange since nothing else seemed to be disturbed. He walked over and set it back upright. Pausing, he began to read the little note inside. It said, “Our God of new beginnings and second chances.” Incredibly enough Joe had walked past this hutch every day, never really noticing the items. His wife Sue knew that the message contained there was just what he needed at that time and purposely drew his attention to it.
Joe took a moment to reflect on the message realizing just how appropriate the words had become at this particular point in his life. Connecting with the sentiments expressed about starting over Joe made a resolution right then and there. He was going to embrace this new beginning and see what God and Sue had in store for him. For Joe the simple note that had escaped his attention for years had turned out to be yet another tool for his wife to use. In his mind this was a blessing from Sue to put his memories of her and the pain of her loss in its appropriate place and move forward. Joe understood that life must continue and with the comfort and reassurance Sue had so purposefully relayed he knew he could count on her support. Determined not to let her efforts go in vain he silently vowed to embark on this journey of new beginnings.
---Submitted by Joe Moscon
Keywords: wife, physical phenomena
