I’ve been here ten years ago when my grandmother, his wife, passed away, so I am familiar with this experience. Yesterday when I looked into his eyes, I knew he was dying. There is a glassy appearance to someone’s eyes when they are near death. Yet, there was an innocence of love in his eyes. When he looked over at me a slight grin crossed his face. It was coy and caused me to smile back. Right now, thinking about it I have to confess I am smiling at the thought of it.

Yesterday, during his discomfort I lightly stroked the top of his head. In a matter of minutes he would fall off into cat naps and wake to tell my mother and me how much he loved us. It’s a special memory to have, to know his last words were ‘I love you’. My grandfather, the man who historically had stumbled on those three little words, said I love you with such tender emotion.

I love you are the words I share with him now. Every time he stirs; I get to up stoke his hair and place one confident kiss on his head then lean into his ear and speak those words. I told him, how two people will never know each other better than in a moment like this: a moment where good-bye is permanent, a moment where the old ways drift off into the new, a moment where the soul is alive and the body failing, a moment where we are left behind, but not forgotten (we meaning me). We know each other now. I know the man who was afraid of emotion, who was too timid to show his love openly. I know the man he has become. In these final hours I know George Landahl.

George is a man, who gave so much behind the scenes. Every week he would sit down with his check book and write checks to many organizations that no one knew about. I only knew because he would get free blankets, stuffed animals, and name labels in the mail from a multitude of non-profit organizations. He gave his money freely. In a word he cared, but to give his love in an act that required demonstration, he failed (that is, up until his last days). In these last days he has cried, laughed, and loved with a brave heart all while his body was shutting down: he became the man he was too afraid to be. He conquered his fears by embracing his faith: his faith in God’s love.

George Landahl learned to love without fear and while he lies in his bed experiencing the process of rebirth, he is caught between two worlds: a world of unending love and a world where his love carries on. His love has transformed many lives here and will now in the next few days be a part of God’s love eternal. My grandfather has overcome the hardest obstacle here on earth to overcome: to give love freely and receive love openly.

I’ve heard your prayer tonight
Felt God saying it’s all right
I want to take you pain with me
But it’s too late for my mercy

Cuz God’s calling on the wind tonight
In the silent whisper of its all right
Just let the pain melt into love
Feel his voice –feel what it does

On the wind you’ve been set free
Let go for the final journey
Toward forever in eternity
Love is the only reality

Cuz God’s calling on the wind tonight
In the silent whisper of its all right
Just let the pain melt into love
Feel his voice –feel what it does

Because God has a master plan
It’s sealed until that final stand
Your prayer held tight in his hands
Your prayers answered –there is no end

Because you’ve been reborn
Given new life for what you’ve done
Your soul’s been transformed
So don’t hold on –in love it’s all been done

Cuz God’s calling on the wind tonight
In the silent whisper of its all right
Just let the pain melt into love
Feel his voice –feel what it does

I have to let go of you
But I’ll see you in the love I do
Giving back to who you are
You may be gone but not that far