One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time

Welcome to Christianity Oasis. This is One Day at a Time from our Sojourn With Luz Leigh Collection. We hope you enjoy this enlightening reading and it helps you on your own be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

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Sojourn With Luz Leigh

One Day at a Time

Written by Luz Leigh - 15 August 2009

The grave was located just inside the gate at the little country cemetery. One could tell it had not been there long; maybe a year or so. There were two arrangements of artificial flowers. Neither was faded, so they had been placed there recently.

The older man walked slowly to the grave. Standing beside it, he removed his cap, and in a soft voice, almost inaudible to anyone not standing close by, he greeted her. "Good morning, momma. It's me." He told her of some of the recent happenings in his life. And they were very recent, for you see, the man goes there almost every day to talk to his precious wife. They had shared many years together, having celebrated their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary just five months before she was taken suddenly from him.

After about ten minutes of visiting, he makes his way to a bench underneath an oak tree. There he invites the younger cousin to sit with him as he tells of his life with his beloved Nancy. Sharon, the cousin, gladly joins him in the shade, for the Texas sun is beginning to beam down. She has sought out this distant cousin who might could help her trace her roots. Her maternal kinsmen lived in this community many years ago and some are buried in this same cemetery.

In a way that only the Lord can work things, she had been sent to him for another reason. She was a widow of many years and he wanted to talk to her about how she faced the future without her spouse. He had told her she seemed so happy and he did not know if he could ever be happy and laugh again with Nancy by his side. Sharon's work was cut out for her, but because this was part of her ministry, she had helped grieving spouses before. This day she would encourage him to talk about Nancy, sharing all the little details he felt like telling about.

And talk he did. It was as though a floodgate had been opened on the memories he had stored up. In a quiet Southern drawl, his voice told of their early life, of the birth of their children, of trips they took to the Ozarks because that was Nancy's dream ... to travel to those mountains.

Sharon listened as he related about the job he held for thirty-three years; how Nancy was a pharmacist's assistant for many years; how they had enjoyed many years of retirement together. Some times, he would pause and look off into the distance as though he were thinking of special times they shared. A lone tear would trickle down his wrinkled face and drop on his folded hands. He would try to apologize for the tear, but Sharon would only say, "Please, continue." He would smile and say, "Thank you."

After hours of allowing him to talk, she told him of some of her experiences while facing life without a mate. She has done this many times before and each time is different, but yet the same. You marry that special person with whom you are in love, you live a happy life together and then one day, they are gone forever. The question has been asked of Sharon many times, "Does it ever get easier?"

And Sharon, holds back the ready tears, when she assures that person that the acute pain one feels in the first days following the death will lessen and become a dull pain. Then one day, you find the pain is almost forgotten, but not the person whom you lost. That person will always be in your heart, a part of your life. But, the Lord will give you the strength to face life, one day at a time. "One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you. Give me the strength to do everything that I have to do. Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Help me today. Show me the way. One day at a time." These are words from an old gospel song that Sharon sings over and over.

The older man turns to Sharon and says, "I have been talking so much that you have not gotten to ask me whatever it was that you wanted to know from me ... something about your family?" Sharon smiles. She reassures the man she will have lots of questions from him in the days to come, but it is far past lunch time and need to be leaving. He agrees.

On their way out of the cemetery, Sharon walks ahead to her car. He pauses by Nancy's grave and speaks words to her. It has been the beginning of a healing process. Sharon has walked this road with others and looks forward to helping this cousin find peace.

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