An honor

Today I did my grocery shopping. I got to go by myself *beautiful loong sigh* While I was at the store I saw the most precious thing I have seen in a long time. I'm not joking either, totally serious here.

I saw an old man and woman in their late 80s or 90s. It was beautiful. She was gorgeous. And no I do not mean she looked like she was in her 20s. I mean, under her snow white curly hair, her small and frail frame I could see what a wonderful, hard, exciting life she must have lived.

Her little eyes, circled with wrinkles, just sparkled.  I was entranced.

Her mouth was framed with lines from a life lived full of smiles. Full of giggles with daughters, bugs with little boys; curly pigtails, stray fireworks and ecstatic screeched! 2nd, 3rd and 4th honeymoons.

Surprise Mother's Day breakfast- burnt, but delivered with proud, excited eye. Kisses on scraped knees, dirty hands, dirty mouths and dirty furniture. Pet salamanders, leisure picnics, and footprints in her kitchen. Star gazing, hiking, campfire ghost stories and sticky smores. Proud report cards on her fridge, proud young athletes! 

Her soft fingers were traced with lines from thousands of scrubbed dishes, thousands of wiped away tears and carefully placed band aids. Those fingers held little hands, colored with her babies, waved goodbye for preschool and college. Wiped up fingerprints on her windows and walls. And have been interlaced with her husbands' for decades, and an eternity to come.

Loving, tender husband. At first awkward and scared. Young and seeking her affection, her attention and her love. Tenderly bent on one knee, grasping her hand. A quiet yes and trickling tears. Soft kisses. Gently putting his arm on her back to let everyone know she's his. Roses just because. Dancing. Feeling him hold her close against his skin. And gloriously growing old together.

She was so clearly at that moment the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Walking with the love of her life, who I must add was also the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Sweet, sweet spirit. His back slightly bent, from I can only imagine a hard worked life. But still walking with his beautiful wife through the grocery store. They had been standing by each others' side for almost a lifetime. Gone through the triumphs and the tears together. They radiated a magnificent life. I was so overwhelmed, so taken aback when I saw them. I truly regret not stopping and telling her how beautiful she was, how beautiful they both were. 

What an honor it is to grow old. Truly something to be envious of. And even more so with the love of your life. I pray that my Father in Heaven has granted me the blessing of growing old with the love of my life.