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"Love and Daffodils Forever"

(Written by Nicolle Woodward)

They had just celebrated their 39th anniversary in April when Bill went for

his annual checkup. Always in perfect health, he was unprepared for what the

doctor found. Symptoms Bill had ignored as "old age" led to questions,

palpations, more questions, and finally instructions for a battery of tests.

"Just to be on the safe side," the doctor said. When Bill took the news home

to Constance, she refused to consider that it could be something serious.

Fortunately, it was April and the gardens beckoned. There was more than

enough work needed to prepare the beds for the coming season, and they threw

themselves into the now-familiar yearly routine. They spent their days, as

always, surrounded by trays of flowers and bags of mulch, wielding their

favorite trowels.

As the summer progressed, 30 years of gardening rewarded them with a

showplace of color. Benches and swings were placed amid the bounty of

flowers, and they spent nearly every evening during the summer relaxing and

basking in the beauty.

As they worked, Constance began to notice a subtle change in Bill. He seemed

to tire more easily, had difficulty rising from his knees, and had little

appetite. By the time the test results were in, she was no longer so sure of

a good prognosis.

When the doctor ushered them into his office, she knew. His demeanor was too

professional, too unlike the friend they had known and trusted for so many

years. There was no easy way to say it. Bill was dying, with so little hope

of curing his illness that it would be kinder to not even try. He had

perhaps six months left, time enough to put his house in order, but little

time for anything else.

They decided he would stay at home, with help from visiting nurses and

hospice when the time came. Their children were both far away, one in Oregon

and the other in Chicago. They came for extended visits, but with jobs and

children, neither could come permanently. So Bill and Constance spent the

ending time as they had spent the beginning time, alone together. Only now

they had their beloved gardens, a great comfort to them both for that entire

summer.

By September, Bill was fading fast and they both knew the end was near. For

some reason Constance couldn't understand, he seemed to be pushing her to

get out more. He urged her to call old friends and have lunch, go shopping,

see a movie. She resisted until he became so agitated that she conceded and

began making her calls. Everyone was more than willing to accompany her, and

she found she did take some comfort in talking over lunch or during the long

ride to the mall.

Bill passed away peacefully in October, surrounded by his family. Constance

was inconsolable. No amount of knowing could have prepared her for the

emptiness she felt. Winter descended upon her with a vengeance. Suddenly it

seemed dark all the time. Then the holidays came, and she went to Oregon for

Thanksgiving and to Chicago for Christmas. The house was cold and empty when

she returned. She wasn't quite sure how she could go on, but somehow she

did.

At long last, it was April again, and with April came the return to longer

and warmer days. She would go from window to window looking out at the yard,

knowing what needed to be done, but not really caring if she did it or not.

Then, one day, she noticed something different about the gardens. They were

coming to life sooner than they had in the past. She went out and walked all

around and through the beds. It was daffodils. Hundreds and hundreds and

hundreds of daffodils. She and Bill had never put many spring plants in

their gardens. They so enjoyed the colors of summer that they had only a few

spring daffodils and hyacinths scattered here and there.

"Where did they come from?" she wondered as she walked. Not only did the

blooms completely encircle each bed, they were also scattered inside, among

the still-dormant summer plants. They appeared in groups all over the lawn,

and even lined the driveway to the street. They ringed the trees and they

lined the foundation of the house. She couldn't believe it. Where on earth

had they come from?

A few days later she received a call from her attorney. He needed to see

her, he said. Could she come to his office that morning? When Constance

arrived, he handed her a package with instructions not to open it until she

returned home. He gave no other explanation.

When she opened the package, there were two smaller packages inside. One was

labeled "Open me first." Inside was a video cassette. Suddenly Bill appeared

on the screen, talking to her from his favorite chair, dressed not in

pajamas but in a sweater and slacks. "My darling Constance," he began,

"today is our anniversary, and this is my gift to you."

He told her of his love for her. Then he explained the daffodils.

"I know these daffodils will be blooming on our anniversary, and will

continue to do so forever," Bill said. "I couldn't plant them alone,

though." Their many friends had conspired with Bill to get the bulbs

planted. They had taken turns last fall getting Constance out of the house

for hours at a time so the work could be done.

The second package held the memories of all those friends who so generously

gave of their time and energies so Bill could give her his final gift.

Photographs of everyone came spilling out, images captured forever of them

working in the garden, laughing, taking turns snapping pictures and visiting

with her beloved husband, who sat bundled in a lawn chair, watching.

In the photo Constance framed and put by her bed, Bill is smiling at her and

waving his trowel.


"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

who made the great lights --

His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them

His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,

His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the desert,

His love endures forever.

who struck down great kings,

His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings --

His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites

His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan --

His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance,

His love endures forever.

an inheritance to his servant Israel;

His love endures forever.

to the One who remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies,

His love endures forever.

and who gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever."

(Psalms 136 NIV)


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