A strong elderly man

I sat with a man who is dying today. I held his hand for an hour and a half, until my arm went numb. I watched as he dozed. I watched the peace on his face. He would begin to smile and the smile would soon move to his eyes while he slept. The crinkles around his eyes shouting out the joy that he felt inside. He awoke and I told him of his smile, the joy I saw. He told me he was filled with joy. He had had a good life, he is 101. He was truly at peace. I read his Bible to him while he listened with closed eyes, occasionally nodding his head. When I finished he opened his eyes and told me he was ready. Ready to go meet Jesus. His eyes twinkled. I prayed with him and then left. The peace that he is approaching death with is something we rarely see. We don't want to leave this life. It is familiar. Death is scary. But this man was ready. Just days before he was full of life. He exercised and walked to every meal. He wasn't sick or full of cancer. He just had a full life and was ready to go home. Home, heaven. I learned a lot from this 101 year old man. He lived a life with no regret. He lived a life with passion. He lived a life in a close relationship with God. He lived a life where he saw goodness around him. He lived a life of contentment. And he faced death the same. I pray that he goes quickly. I pray that he closes his eyes in that hospital bed and opens them to see the face of Jesus. I pray that those of us left behind will feel the joy and peace he felt someday and face death with the same dignity and longing. Today, a week later this amazing man left this world and enter into the arms of His sweet Jesus. Thank you God for bringing him into my life.