Shining Spirit, Named Mark

When I went to the allergist yesterday, I never expected to be blessed so dearly. God is amazing, and His love and displays of His wonder never end, even though our minds tend to think that they do have limits. God's love and His grace came to me, through the shining spirit of an 82 year old man.

When I went in, I stood in line behind a tall man, waiting to sign my name on the sign in sheet. As I was waiting, an elderly man in a wheel chair was rolled in by a woman, and they had a younger woman with them. I imagined that it must be his daughter, and his granddaughter.

I moved out of their way so they could walk by me, and as they passed, I could not help but to notice this elderly man. Not because he was in a wheel chair, or even because he was old, I noticed him because his spirit shined brightly. You could clearly see happiness on this man's face! I don't think there was a single moment that he didn't have a big shining smile on his face.

The man in line in front of me commented on the old man's Penn State baseball cap, and I wasn't paying attention to what was going on, but the next thing I knew, the older woman that was with the elderly man yelled "Oh, you stop it! I can't believe you said such a smart aleck (not her word lol) thing to that man!" I looked at the man in line and he was laughing, and so was the elderly man, in fact, he seemed quite proud of whatever he had said.

Obviously this woman had her hands full with this fiesty old man, and she seemed shocked at him, however, the man that was in line was getting a charge out of him, too. The old man said "Ah, he's not gonna do anything, ya have to respect your elders" and he smiled such a mischeivious smile, I couldn't help but let out a giggle at his defiance lol. The woman said, "Yes, well, ya don't have to be a smart aleck!" The old man giggled and I turned and said, "I think you've lived long enough to earn the right to be a smart aleck, haven't you sir?" He smiled even brighter and said, "Yes, and I"m a veteran too!" I told him that gave him double the right to be a smart aleck.

He asked me to guess his age, and I terrible hate to do such a thing, because I am usually always wrong lol, so I avoided it and he tried to make me guess, but gave in and told me he was 82 years old. Let me just note, this man did not look 82, he looked elderly but by no means did he look old and worn. 

He talked to me and the man that was in line ahead of me for some time, and I asked him what his name was, "Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John?!" He shouted, wanting me to guess, but immediately the older woman that was with him yelled, "MARK!" So I stuck my hand out and said, "My name is Bekkah, Mark, and it is truly an honor to meet a character such as yourself" He thought I guessed his name and smiled and laughed when I told him the woman with him cheated a little bit lol :)

He had one of his legs amputated and when the man that was in line ahead of me asked him if he lost in the war, he said that he hadnt'. It got silent but I had to know what happened to him, so I asked. He ended up getting a knee replacement surgery, and got a staph infection and had to get his leg amputated. I felt sorry for him, but let me tell you, that only lasted a milisecond. What that man said after he told what happened to his leg humbled me, it blessed me, it inspired me, and it brought a tear to my eye at the amazing character this man had. He must have seen the look on my face, because he said, "Aw, it's okay, God never gives you more than you can handle, and by golly, I must not have been able to handle two legs!" He smiled and was so happy, this man lacked nothing, and though he had lost his leg, there was nothing that could take away the happiness in his heart.

My visit with Mark was cut short by his doctor appointment, and I wish I had gotten his address so I could write him, but I just really cannot tell you how that man blessed me so deeply. We think that we have it tough, and sometimes we do, but yet his man showed me that no matter what we go through, that God is in control, and He means for us to live a happy and loving life. Mark is living that life, and he's got more life in him than some young people I know.

I have always enjoyed those prankster, joking kinda older people. Mark was one of the most amazing people I have had the opportunity to meet in such a brief fashion. I pray that God blesses him so much, for the blessing that he put upon my heart, and may he always misbehave, no matter how much the woman with him begs him to stop :) 

God bless you Mr. Mark, my love to you, my respect, and admiration are yours....