Around this time, seven years ago I was working at the store setting up for our monthly auction. I heard a loud crash a few isles over and knew something had smashed all over.
I went running to see what had happened.
There stood one of my most favourite customers amongst a million little smashed pieces. I knew he felt badly, so I automatically smiled and gave him a big, fat hug. I told him we would clean it up.
When I was finished with our hug, I noticed he was crying. I consoled him and told him not to worry about it, and hugged him again.
But he couldn’t stop crying.
I stayed to chat with him. I asked if everything was OK, that he must be having a rough day. He agreed, and started sobbing uncontrollably. I embraced him and listened to his story.
He said, “Connie, my wife passed away yesterday. “
A Secret That Changed Everything
I listened to his heartfelt pain as he talked about his lovely wife, crying between words. I explained to him that I felt so badly, as I didn’t even know she was sick, and offered another hug.
He said to me, “I couldn’t tell you she was sick, because I couldn’t tell you who she was.”
I looked at him—totally confused and perplexed—then asked him what that meant.
He said to me, ”Connie, she was your VON nurse (Victorian Order of Nurses) for two years.
“You were her favourite patient; she always left you until the end of her day, so she could spend extra time with you. She thought the world of you, and you always lifted her up, no matter how you felt. She appreciated all the teas and special talks you had. She loved her job; she kept everything in confidence and only told me you were her favourite, no other details.”
I was absolutely stunned.
By this time, I was bawling my face off. More hugs were exchanged. I was absolutely gobsmacked that for years he had shopped there—and I had had no idea who his wife was.
Remembering An Angel
I’d last said goodbye to her in February of 2014, after two years of her care during a difficult period of illness in my life.
We had learned to laugh together through it all, and it became commonplace between us to hear things like: “This never happens as a rule… less than 1% of people have this… in 30 years we have never seen this happen.”
My VON nurse had heard all the “issues” firsthand, and stood by me with a smile. She knew all my secrets, other than my creator who made me! She had come to hold such a special place in my heart—and she always will.
I remember her telling me, at the end of our time together, “Connie, if I get sick, I am coming to see you. You are the most positive person I have ever met, with everything you have been through!”
I remember crying at those words, and thinking of the verse Phil. 4:13. “I can do ALL things through HIM who gives me strength!”
The good Lord above is the only way I made it through those most challenging couple of years. It was HIM that put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step; and HIM who sent me my VON nurse, my angel.
The Power of Listening and Loving
Her husband laughed through the tears in the store as he told me more about her. He told me that every day when he came home from the store, he had to report what I was wearing. He said she needed all the details, from the top of my head down to my shoes . It was a highlight for her, he told me.
“She was so happy to hear that you still laugh loud and love people like you always did before.”
I remember grabbing his cheeks and telling him, “Your wife spoke life into me in my hardest, darkest days. She told me I was beautiful when I looked a wreck. She cried with me and laughed with me. She was an absolute angel on earth.
“I am so pleased that today, God got my attention to come running to you. He knew you needed a hug and would never ask. Just like the houseware item that was smashed into so many pieces… I feel like God was helping me gather up all your pieces today, so you can begin to put your brokenness back together.
“He also gave you a miraculous gift to give me. What a treasure to find out, this secret you knew all along.”
I remember asking him that day, after he read me her obituary from his phone, if I could dedicate my book to her someday when I write it. His eyes filled up with tears and said that would be an honour.
For the longest time after that when he would come into the store, each time he would see me he would start to cry. I would simply give him a hug, because he couldn’t talk.
He’d choke back the tears and say, ”I’m fine until I see you, and I cry every time”.
Of course, as he was a rough-and-tough, biker-type guy, I know he probably was right and never cried much.
A Dedication from the Heart
That encounter will always be a special day I hold in my heart. I was so blessed that I listened and took an opportunity to love on someone in a time of need. If I hadn’t, I would have never found out the secret he had kept for so many years.
I encourage everyone to take time to listen to the broken hearted, give hugs, and pray with those who need a miracle. Be Jesus with skin on every day.
Lastly, I’m happy to share with you that last year, I did finally complete my book. And I wrote the dedication to my sweet VON nurse.