When he was born I listened in the hall and heard what I thought was odd for the early morning hours in the hospital, it sounded like a kitten. That wasn't a kitten's soft cry, that was my brand new grandson announcing his arrival. He was a wrinkly mess of love, even then. Cuddling was our special time together throughout the years. He slept the most soundly when he was in my arms. Spoiled? Naw, just good grandparenting.
Fast forward through many obstacles to a few weeks ago, Thanksgiving week. He was approaching his angel wings and we all took turns holding, comforting him. On December 1st, I said that I needed to hold him. My son-in-law (Stephen's Nathan) gave over the rocking chair and his sweet boy. Stephen's hospice volunteer and I cleared the living room of all distractions and the house settled down peacefully. The hours passed with us talking about nonsense, eating cake and drinking tea, until a little after three there was a marked change in Stephen's breathing. I said, "That's different," as he took a sweet, deep breath. Susan ran to get Stephen's mom, dad and his Nathan up. Stephen took two more sweet, deep breaths and then a soft smile was on his lips. We all kissed him and told him how much we love him, but it was time to run with his friends and fly free of all his pain and suffering. (He had been looking at the angels all week and we knew that he would join them when he was ready.)
I will never forget that moment that I watched him take his last breath and smile at the glorious angels who had come for him.
That moment, that is my perfect present. Can't buy it in the store, can't order it off the internet, can't duplicate it, 'cause it's imprinted on my heart forever.
