After many years of being away from school, I went back to college this past May. I had spent most of my life in manufacturing, and made a good living for both Leah and myself.  However, the summer of 2008 brought about a change in my life. My wife of twenty-three years was diagnosed with stave IV pancreatic cancer and given less than a month to live. It was then that I took a leave of absence from work to attend her every need, for she wanted to be at home. Hospice came in and set everything up and was diligent to visit twice a week. The times in-between, I filled the gap. Through Leah’s faith in GOD, as well as her resolve to live, she far surpassed all expectations and lived to see her last birthday here on earth.  It was from this living ordeal in which I watched a seemingly healthy woman whom I loved dearly decline to the point of immobility. This, after her passing thus motivated me to change professions after all these years.  I decided that I would become a physical therapist so that I may help; inspire, and motivate others who have for one reason or another has lost their mobility.

 Therefore in May of 2009, I enrolled and was accepted for admission into college. Work back home was slow back then, and this seemed like the appropriate time to make such a move…after all, each day that we live, we grow not younger but older and I wanted to contribute the gift of love to the living while still paying homage to the most remarkable woman that to date I had ever known. Soon thereafter the company I work for landed a very large contact with Florida Power and Light to build the largest solar powered plant east of the Mississippi  Soon three day work weeks went to six and seven day work weeks. This coupled with all the homework from school, probate court and other obligations left me with little or no sleep at all. The schedule was grueling with the one hour drive in the morning to school, and then rush in after school to only change clothes and go to work until midnight on many nights, then followed the homework until 2AM only to arise once again at 6AM to be a school by eight in the morning. It was then that I met her…

 It was now September, and a year after my Leah left me to rest in the arms of JESUS. A new semester had started. I was excited and thrilled, even though pushing to the point of exhaustion to begin a new session of learning, I pushed forward, for it is grand to gain in knowledge, for to gain is to grow.  Then I met her…my eyes at that time looked liked two pee holes in the snow; my mind was  frazzled and  knowing I needed a cup of coffee to keep me awake through English, I pulled into the first connivance store I could find just before I reached school.  When I walked in at 7:40AM it was like I could taste the actual beans that “Juan Valdez” had just picked being brewed upon my lips. The aroma drew me in like a thirsty man seeking a desert oasis.  I was a traveler in a foreign world who only sought to learn, to help others, and to live once again, yet it was the smell of fresh brewed coffee that captured my heart that moment.  Ambling at a snail’s pace in the direction from whence the delectable aroma came, I at last found the coffee pots. It was here in the middle of nowhere USA that I met the old black lady that I anonymously came to love. Her hair was a rich gray from time, yet her eyes shone like she was only ten. If I were to have to guess, I would think her to be seventy, to seventy-five years of age.  I don’t believe she was actually employed by the store, but rather chose to be there instead of being alone. I knew that feeling, and I could feel her spirit.

 Her first response to me as I approached the coffee was “Good morning sir, Jesus loves you”. To this I offered a soft smile, and mutually agreed. We spoke for a few minutes as I in a one eyed attempt made my coffee.  She laughed a soft laughed at my awkwardness of my early in the morning endeavor in trying to make a simple cup of coffee. I soon found myself stopping there every morning for a cup of fresh brew, but in reality I think it was for the mere sake of having someone greet me with a smile and the kind words of “Jesus loves you”.  To some this may sound strange, but this small petite black lady was in essence my angel in the morning.  Soon thereafter every morning that I would walk in at 7:40 AM she would have my coffee ready for me. We would chat for a minute or two and then I would be on my way to school.  To me, and perhaps others, she was so beautiful. Her soul radiated with the love of GOD.

 Then…oh yes then! There came the day that seven day work weeks; the court, and the probate that would soon overwhelm me. A decision had to be made lest I succumb to the external forces that sought to consume me. I would have to finish the last month of the fall semester online. However, I remember our last meeting at that small store where she sought just to touch life. I walked in one morning…She had my coffee ready, yet she saw a sadness upon my face.  She asked me at once what was up. I told her with all sincerity of heart that I would not be coming back. She knew of my struggles, she knew of my love for my wife and the reason that I was going back to school, yet she wondered why?  I soon began to detail to this beautiful lady the whys and therefore, and oddly enough…she understood. It was then that I reached in my pocket and produced a cross pictured above and presented it to her, and told her that GOD loves her, and so do I. She immediately placed it around her neck and gave me a beautiful, tender, sweet hug and told me that “God loves you and so do I”.  One month has passed since I have continued my education online and I still think of that dear lady and that  cross every day. For you see, the power of love through the blood of Jesus never loses its power to bless. For even today after my very dismal book signing event for “Glimpse Of An Angel”. I was blessed beyond words. I did have one dear friend, Jan to come to support me, yet nonetheless I was disappointed.

 After I left the book store I went in the direction of home…I was hungry…a bit saddened, yet still happy that I was blessed by GOD to see another day. Therefore I went to one of mine and Leah’s favorite restaurants in Belton to eat. While I was eating, four people walked in. There was a Mamma…a daddy, a grandma and a young lady who was obviously mentally challenged.  I remember even now as the young and mentally challenged young lady walked past my table, she touched my arm and said “mewwwwry chrrrristmas”. The Grandmother apologized…I said that is ok, no problem, for the girls love was genuine like Gods love for us. As I got up to leave, I remembered another cross that I had in my pocket like the one I gave the old black lady in nowhere USA.. I walked over to their table…I looked the young girl straight in the eye and presented her the cross…I told her Merry Christmas…God Loves You…and so do I.

 Even still…2000 years later….there is power in the cross…yet it is HIS love that dwells within us that allows the manifestation of that love here on earth.  I hope and pray that you all will have a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year to come…This month in all likelihood will be my last month on the Den….and as one of my favorites, Red Skelton said…”Goodnight, and GOD Bless

J. Allen Wilson © 12/5/09