Daily Signet

I returned to the hospital room to find Mom seated in a chair, stroking Dad’s head and hands. She told me that when she returned to the room after dinner, she found him with both arms extended out to either side of the bed. We both wondered aloud who he was reaching out to, who had come for him. We sat on either side holding a hand and stroking his head. Mom expressed her gratefulness for his being a good husband and a good father; I thanked him for giving me life, and for all he had done and meant to me and my family over the years.…Mom and I sat there with my father. He was cool to touch but not cold. His face was beautifully at peace. You would never know he had been through so much pain. I cannot tell you how long we stayed there looking at him and telling him “thank you.” Time was irrelevant. 

After a while, Mom looked at me and said, “It’s okay. I can go now.” She gave Dad very long tender kisses to his mouth and to his forehead. I followed with a long kiss to his forehead and stroked his hair for the last time. We sought out the nurses and aides to thank them for everything they did for Dad and for us, and as we walked out of the hospital, we commented to each other that we hoped it would be a very long time before we had to cross this threshold again—we can only pray this is so.                 

Earl J. Behnke