Our family sometimes attends mass at a certain church. Most of the time, we sit in what we call the "family area" since the kids often become boisterous and restless inside. We've been doing this for quite a while now.
At this church, there’s an old man who serves as an usher. He always hands out church leaflets with a warm smile. Yesterday, Saturday, he stood in a corner near the doors. By chance, I happened to be in that same corner. After a while, he looked at me, smiled, and started talking.
He shared that he was 84 years old, with six grandchildren, and had been married to the same woman for 62 years. He said he had lived a good life and mentioned he was scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday for a cyst on the left side of his neck. It was cancer. He also spoke about his brother, who was battling cancer as well, though his brother's situation was worse since the cancer had metastasized. Despite the sadness, I could see he was preparing himself for what lay ahead. He said, “I had a good life. What more can I ask for?”
Truthfully, I didn’t know what to say. My mind went blank as I thought about what he was going through. Yet, I realized he was fortunate. At 84, he still serves the church, not bedridden like many his age. That, in itself, is a blessing.
I asked him again to confirm the date of his operation. He said it would be Tuesday. I tapped his shoulder and said, “See you on Sunday.” He replied with a confident smile, “You bet I’ll be here.”
And now, I’m looking forward to seeing him on that day.