Last weekend in an effort to bring about a sense of peace to both Jan and I in light of all the recent turmoil, I surprised her with a spur of the moment get-away to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Though I was tired after having only two hours sleep since I worked the night before onward I drove climbing mountain after mountain.
Needless to say the scenery was beautiful as the smile on Jan’s face. Finally needing some nourishment, we stopped at a ‘Burger King’ in Cherokee, NC. This is where a blessing came unto me, and my only call was to act upon this blessing, or not act?
With it being a Saturday and a tourist destination the line was quite long. Jan secured us a table as I entered the rat’s maze which eventually led one to be able to place an order…there must have been a hundred people in line which brings me to the entirety of the prologue and poem.
While I was standing in line, a lady about my age ducked under the rail in front of me to exit the line. I gave her as much room as I could to allow her escape. She had long blonde hair; she was frail and gaunt and at once went to a table and laid her head upon it. Her husband whom was right in front of me turned to me with eyes as blue as the sky, but clouded in tears and apologized. He went on to speak and told how he was going to have to home hospice her because she has pancreatic cancer.
It was then that my heart fell. I then told him of my late wife’s passing of the same thing and spoke in length about what to expect. We spoke for quite some time as the line was long. By the time he got his order his wife had already gone back to the car. I was heartbroken for him as memories cascaded like a mountain river upon my heart and mind.
I could feel GOD talking to my inner being as tears filled my eyes, for it was this month in 2008 that my Leah was beginning to leave this world. What more could I do or say to bring comfort to this man with such beautiful blue eyes? It was then that GOD spoke to my heart and I knew what I was to do.
When my Leah passed into glory, a friend of mine sent me a golden cross on a necklace. I have purchased from her, many over the years and have given them away to strangers and friends alike to support her ministry…but the one I always wore was special to me.
After placing my order I went to where Jan sat and asked her to help me off with my cross and told her that I would explain later. I then took the cross in the cup of my hand and walked to the man with blue eyes at the table where he sat. I said that you may not want this, but I want your wife to have this. GOD told me to give unto you what was so precious to me since it was given to me in remembrance of my late wife.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he arose at once and went to his car where I saw him place it around his sick wife’s neck. He then came back in, shook my hand and said she loved it and for GOD to bless me….I just wished I had got his name….
The Stranger With Blue Eyes and The Golden Cross
He stood in line with patience as the line crawled ever near to place an order for their meal.
As his wife left the line, I saw in her face, a look I’ve seen before and I began to feel.
When he turned to me and spoke I saw eyes as blue as an October sky.
Yet I could see the hurt behind those eyes and the faint moisture of tears in a heart which cried.
He during our wait began to tell me of his dilemma and the travail which was to come.
It was then that GOD spoke to my already weary heart considering this stranger with blue eyes and how his life would soon become undone.
I remembered back to my days when I home hospice with my late wife Leah as she slowly slipped away.
I knew what the man with the sad blue eyes was so very soon to face.
So therefore I gave unto him the one thing that has been so precious to me.
I gave him a golden cross, my golden cross that marked the day my late wife took leave.
More tears formed in his eyes as I gave this Stranger a gift that was so special to me.
I know not his name, nor that of his wife, but this was in my heart according to GOD something that had to be.
I still weep inside for the stranger with the beautiful, but pain-filled blue eyes, I pray for him every night and hope with all my heart that GOD will show him HIS way.
“Life is temporal, but true love is eternal”
© 8/6/2012 J. Allen Wilson
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