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Rudy's Angel
I walked into the grocery store
not particularly
interested
in buying groceries.
I wasn't hungry.
The pain of losing my husband
of 37 years was
still too raw.
And this grocery store
held so many
sweet memories.
Rudy often came with me
and almost every time
he'd pretend
to go off and look for something
special.
I knew what he was up to.
I'd always
spot him
walking down the aisle
with the three
yellow roses in his hands.
Rudy knew I loved yellow roses.
With a heart
filled with grief,
I only wanted to buy
my few
items and leave,
but even grocery shopping
was different
since Rudy had passed on.
Shopping for one took time,
a little more thought
than it had for two.
Standing by the meat, I
searched for
the perfect small steak
and
remembered how Rudy
had loved his steak.
Suddenly a woman came beside me.
She was
blond, slim
and lovely in a soft green pantsuit.
I watched as she picked up a large pack of
T-bones,
dropped them in her basket, hesitated,
and then put them back.
She turned to go and
once again
reached for the pack of steaks.
She saw me watching her and she smiled.
"My
husband loves T-bones,
but honestly, at these
prices,
I don't know."
I swallowed the emotion down my throat
and met
her pale blue eyes.
"My husband passed away
eight days ago,"
I told her,
Glancing at the
package in her hands,
I fought to control the
tremble
in my voice.
"Buy him the steaks.
And cherish every moment
that you have together."
She shook her head
and I saw the emotion in
her eyes
as she placed the package in her
basket
and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed
my cart
across the length of the store
to the
dairy products.
There I stood, trying to decide
which size milk I should buy.
A quart, I finally
decided
and moved on to the ice cream section
near the front of the store.
If nothing else,
I could
always fix myself
an ice cream cone.
I placed the ice cream in my cart
and looked
down the aisle
toward the front.
I saw first the
green suit,
then recognized the pretty lady
coming towards me.
In her arms she carried
a package.
On her face was the brightest
smile
I had ever seen.
I would swear a soft halo
encircled her blond hair
as she kept walking
toward me,
her eyes holding mine.
As she came
closer,
I saw what she held and tears began
misting in my eyes.
"These are for you,"she said
and placed three
beautiful
long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.
"When you go through the line,
they will know
these are paid for."
She leaned over and placed
a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again.
I wanted to tell her what she'd done,
what the
roses meant,
but still unable to speak,
I watched
as she walked away
as tears clouded my vision.
I looked down at the beautiful roses
nestled in
the green tissue wrapping
and found it almost
unreal.
How did she know?
Suddenly the answer seemed so clear.
I wasn't
alone.
"Oh, Rudy,
you haven't forgotten me, have
you?"
I whispered, with tears in my eyes.
He was
still with me,
and she was his angel.
Everyday be
thankful
for what you have and who you are.
Even though I clutch my blanket
and growl
when the alarm rings,
Thank You, Lord,
that I can
hear.
There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed
against the
morning light
as long as possible,
Thank You,
Lord,
that I can see.
Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed
and put off
rising,
Thank You, Lord,
that I have the strength
to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day
is hectic,
when socks are lost,
toast is burned and
tempers are short,
my children are so loud,
Thank You, Lord,
for my family.
There are many
who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table
never looks
like the pictures in magazines
and the menu is
at times unbalanced,
Thank You, Lord,
for the
food we have.
There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job
often is
monotonous,
Thank You, Lord,
for the
opportunity to work.
There are many who have
no job.
Even though I grumble
and bemoan my fate from
day to day
and wish my circumstances
were not
so modest,
Thank You, Lord,
for life!
A friend is someone we turn to
when our spirits
need a lift.
A friend is someone to treasure.
For friendship
is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives
with
Beauty, Joy and Grace
and makes the world we
live
in a better and happier place.
Author Unknown
 
 
 
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