49th Heartbeat

LOVE IS BEYOND DEATH

Few years ago, I have read the narrative of a woman who went to the cemetery in order to visit her deceased grandparents and noticed an elderly man struggling to tidy up a dilapidated grave with his bare hands. Out of concern, she came near him and offered her help which he accepted cheerfully. In the course of their conversation, the woman found out that the elderly man was actually cleaning the grave of his mother, who died at a very young age of 21, because of so many complications after she gave birth. At 77, the elderly man had no idea about his mother. In order that he could picture out what his mother looked like, he would just stare at the vintage frame that adorned the small pictures of a very beautiful woman who seemed to be at the peak of her youth, whose gleaming innocence defied all of pains and excruciations she was experiencing at that very moment. It was actually the last picture of his mother taken few months before she gave birth to him.

Every year, this elderly man would go to the cemetery, pull out all the weeds and vines that blocked the little space around the grave, offer a basket of flowers and say a short prayer in memory of his beloved mother. The woman who had a hearty exchange of pleasantries with this elderly man admired his ardent devotion to his mother. Though they never really met, the man seemed to be so close to his mother’s heart and their love for each other was even beyond death. With much hope and eagerness, the woman looked forward for another chance that they would meet again so that she could listen to some more stories from the old man.

A year later, the woman came back to the cemetery on All Soul’s Day, and looked for her elderly friend. She waited for a couple of hours but she never saw the old man entered the gate. She then decided to go to the burial place of the old man’s mother in order to meet him there.But as soon as she reached the place, she was surprised at what she saw. There were two tombs already and she was deeply saddened when she read what was written on the second gravestone. It was the name of the elderly man. He died few months after they met at that very same place. But despite her grief, she was consoled upon realizing that her friend, who didn’t have a slightest recollection about his mother, has finally seen her in heaven. In her musing, she told herself that maybe, they will have to spend a lot of time together because they have to catch up for the many lost moments. After the long and meandering years of waiting, they had their much deserved reunion.

Before she left the place, she smiled, as she gave herself a deep sigh upon reading the short but significant thought inscribed at the lower portion of the gravestone:

“The elderly son finally meets his youthful mother”

Love is indeed, beyond death.

P.S.

Have a meaningful visit to your deceased loved ones at the cemetery.There is no such thing as distance to persons who love and who are loved.

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