The end or the beiginning?

Well we buried dad Monday as the Ste Anne de Bellevue veteran's hospital became his Last Post. He fought the good fight, his family celebrated his life in style both in church and at the grave site and now his remains rest in the National Field of Honour in Pte Claire (west island Montreal) with many of his fallen comrades. What a simple humble ending to a simple humble life (earthly life that is).

Bear with me as I relate a story of love and full circle recovery of a relationship before we really get into step 8. First I will say only one thing about step 8 (made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all). BEGIN BY SIMPLY SAYING TO YOURSELF EACH AND EVERY NAME YOU CAN THINK OF (PEOPLE YOU KNOW/KNEW OF COURSE), AND ANYONE OF THESE THAT CREATES A NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE OF ANY KIND, IS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR SOME KIND OF AMENDING. THINK NO FURTHER AT THIS POINT AND SIMPLY PUT DOWN THE NAME ON YOUR LIST OF POSSIBLES.

Dad and mom survived 62 years of marriage before dad passed July 25/09. They both ended up in the veteran's hospital after so many years of trial and tribulations. The following is something I waited all my life to see:
When I visit my folks I generally pick up mom from her area of the facility and then together we go to visit dad. About 6 weeks ago I arrived in Montreal and went directly to the hospital. I dropped into mom's area and no mom. Oh well I will visit dad and find mom later. Now to my knowledge at this point mom could not leave her area without an escort. Well as I rounded the corner and peered into his area, I could see his little cubicle about 50 feet into the ward. Dad's back was to the wall and mom was sitting opposite him. They were looking into each others eyes, smiling and holding hands as they conversed. I had never seen this before and to see my two parents in love was the fairy tale ending to a story that spanned 62 years of hard fought relationship with every reason in the book for failure. They fought the odds and finished victorious. Two veterans of the second world war spending their last weeks together. So beautiful to me!!

Did that love end with dad passing away; I don't think so?
Minutes before dad's death as Mom, Wendie (my sister) and I surrounded dad and physically hung onto him, mom said several times "look how young he is looking, isn't that amazing?" and then after his body lay lifeless, mom said to me "did you see him standing there leaning, he was young and tall just like you?" I said "no mom, that must be God's gift to you. In speaking at his funeral service Monday, I told this story and related how I had gone away from the hospital after dad died and searched scripture for help. First Corinthians chapter 15 was the answer http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+15 These verses talk about the spiritual bodies that replace the natural bodies of the deceased believer. This provided such hope. Maybe mom actually saw one of these bodies. Wow that's exciting!
Sad, absolutely, but what a wonderful experience to know one another's love and to feel it bloom at the close of such a turbulent life long struggle; their love had survived and they both know it now and forever! Victory and hope-is there anything greater?