He Kissed Her

He Kissed Her

Such a simple tender moment that I witnessed. Not an extraordinary peek into a couple's world, but this one was packed with significance and brought tears of joy to my eyes.

It was the end of a wonderful afternoon spent at the home of special friends who were entertaining their three grown children, their spouses, a dozen grandchildren, and me for the Fourth of July. As they have done numerous times in the past, they kindly included me as part of the family...a position I enjoy, especially since all my family members live out of state. We had sat around the big dining table, talking and eating until we all were filled-to-bursting!

One son and his family of seven were preparing to leave for another mission trip to Mexico. At the last hour, they had been able to join the rest of the family for the holiday, but now it was time for them to be off for their long cross-country trek in their RV. Several of the grandchildren and a couple of the adults were tossing a football in the cool grassy area of the yard. Jim and Mary Frances, patriarch and matriarch of this crew, were standing shoulder to shoulder in the shade of their long stone porch, watching their loved ones. Catching snatches of laughter and conversation here and there, I hesitated just inside the glass door to decide if I was going outside yet or wait for napping youngsters to rouse from sleep and bound down the stairs to run barefoot in the soft grass with their cousins. Warm hugs had been given and goodbyes had been said to the seven who were leaving. That's when I saw what I saw.

While I was deciding which way to swing the door, in that split second, Jim put his right arm around Mary Frances, leaned over and tenderly kissed his wife, leaving his arm draped over her shoulders. It was a moment framed in time. In my opinion, there was so much meaning behind that quiet show of affection. One week prior to July 4th, he had been admitted to the hospital with signs of a stroke. After being dismissed four days later with doctors' orders to be followed, here Jim was in his own corner of the world, standing strong next to his bride of forty-four years, gazing upon his beloved family. I believe his heart was filled with gratitude to God who had answered a multitude of prayers to have this fine day dawn. America was celebrating her 232nd birthday while Jim was in the midst of his precious family, happily celebrating the blessing of being alive and cherished at home where he was meant to be on this Independence Day.

Story ID:	4072
Written by:	Susan Hammett Poole (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	LaGrange GA USA
Year:	2008
Person:	Jim and Mary Frances