He Grunted

I was thinking today about the second to last time I was in Elberta. Paw Paw was just getting sick again. We had taken him to the doctor and as we sat in there waiting I took it upon myself to be the comic relief. I started playing with the doctors scopes and then me and mom were looking in each others ears. It was funny. I remember how tired paw paw was. He was hurting and exhausted and I just rubbed his hair and he grunted. He grunted his usual grunt he does when he is satisfied. I think it was his way of purring!
The last time I was there he was really sick. We had to call an ambulance the night before and I just wanted to help him so bad, but there was nothing I could do. That was his final ride to the hospital. I remember going to see him the next day. I took Libby and Elijah to see him and he was sitting in a chair about to eat. He yelled hey at us with all the strength he could muster. It was amazing that as bad as he felt he was still so happy to see his family. As he got settled in his bed and the nurse came to change him we left the room and me and mom and kids went down the hall.
Mom told me she would watch the kids and I could go talk to him. I knew she meant to say my goodbyes. I had rehearsed it so many times in my head what I would say. On the way back to the room I got really emotional and was really fighting to keep it under control. As I walked into the room I saw him lying there with his eyes shut and I sat beside him and held his hand and there was no response. I desperately wanted him to squeeze my hand back and let me know he knew I was there. He just laid there silently, breathing deeply. Even when he was sick he was so handsome. I was watching him breath and thinking of all that he meant to me and I started crying and I knew that I needed to make my exit. I got up and walked around the bed and rubbed his head and bent down and whispered in his ear, "I love you". And He grunted!
It was all I needed. Jesus knew what I needed and he allowed me to have one more grunt. That has got to be one of my favorite noises in all the world!
Thank you Jesus for one last grunt.