After 67 years of marriage, Floyd (age 90) and Violet (age 89) Hartwig died holding hands, on February 11, 2015, just five hours apart.
Their children knew the couple were close to death and pushed their hospice beds together, gently placing their father’s hand into their mother’s hand.
Their daughter, Donna Scharton, reported, “They were dedicated to each other. It was meant to be this way. We felt blessed because we knew that’s what they wanted.”
Floyd and Violet met at a local dance and were married in 1947. While overseas in the Navy, the couple exchanged love letters. Sometimes Floyd wrote to Violet five times a day.
This is the most recent story of its kind. Other similar stories have made headlines in the past several years. So why do these stories intrigue us and touch us so deeply?
In a world of constant change, we long for that which is unchangeable. We long for certainty.
Richard Rohr states, “Conservatives look for absolute truth; liberals look for something “real” and authentic. Spouses look for a marriage that will last “’ til death do us part.” Believers look for a God who never fails them; scientists look for a universal theory. They are all on the same quest. We are all looking for an immortal diamond: something utterly reliable, something loyal and true, something we can always depend on, something unforgettable and shining.”
Today offers you the opportunity to discover and reflect upon that which is truly certain in your life. Ask yourself today what you know to be absolutely true in your life. I’d bet you’ll find the foundation is in . . . love.
