One Last Dip in the Ocean—A Dying Wish
At the beach, God’s magnificence is vividly on display in ways that appeal to our senses. I saw the coolest scene ever the last time I visited. A scene that had nothing to do with the roar of waves crashing to shore, the shrill cry of seabirds searching for dinner, gently swaying sea oats, or a sunset so heartbreakingly beautiful it cracked open my soul.
A couple, closer in age to 90 than 80, captured my attention. She grasped his arm with both hands as they waded into the water trickling to shore. Moving gingerly as they tested the shifting sand underfoot, they continued on a few feet further. Then she stopped, braced herself against his body, and slid downward until, with a plop, she sat in the ocean. Startled, he followed her. They looked at each other and laughed. The joy radiating from their faces was palpable.
I imagined the memories provoking her joy. Might they be:
- the time in her twenties she honeymooned at the beach?
- the time in her thirties her toddlers experienced the ocean for the first time?
- The time in her forties she trained for a 5K by running three miles a day through bottomless sand?
- the time in her fifties she vacationed with five dear friends spending hours in beach chairs reading books from their “to-be-read” lists, eating what they wanted when they wanted—for the first time freed from day-to-day parenting responsibilities?
- the time in her sixties she took a beach trip alone to prove something to herself?
- the time in her seventies she and hubby quietly welcomed the New Year at her favorite place on earth?
Brought out of my reverie, I watched a middle-aged man, probably their son, help them both stand and make their way back to a group of umbrella-shaded chairs.
I imagined this beach trip to be her dying wish—a yearning of the heart to return to the beach that beckoned her throughout her life one last time before God called her home.
My preacher used to say, “Christians die well.” He said they die peacefully; they don’t struggle when it’s time to go. Christians believe that heaven awaits—a place that has many rooms prepared for them. A place that will afford them as many dips in their “ocean” of choice as they wish.
Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?
John 11:26
Psychologists claim that granting loved ones a dying wish has a positive effect on how they view their life and how they feel about dying. Click here for a short, heartwarming (really!) presentation: Twenty Dying Wishes.
We have assurance from Jesus that we will one day be with Him in heaven.
Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.’
Luke 23:43
I welcome your thoughts in the comments section below.
Have a great week!
Immersed in His Love,
Candyce
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A beautiful post, Candyce! I loved the imagined memories provoking her joy!
Such beautiful musings, Candyce. Thank you for reminding me of the eternal perspective.
Thank you, Annie. I value your comments.
What a beautiful poignant picture. I could see the years. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus is our destiny!
Sylvia, may we never lose sight of Jesus being our ultimate destination.
Wow, so beautiful a picture. I loved it. It brought a tear as I read. Thank you sharing it and encouraging us by your words Candyce
Thank you for your support, Yvonne.
What a beautiful, insightful post — made even more so for me because our family was at the beach for a few days last week with my mother in law (80), mom (88) and dad (91). To be able to take them there and share moments together is a gift I pray to never forget or take for granted. Thank you for blessing us with this story.
I had a similar experience in the fall taking my 90-year-old mother-in-law to the beach. Her joy spilled over to me. It was awesome and a moment I’ll never forget.
“Dying well”; I’ll long remember this term. I’ve see it play out, but have never heard it expressed so well as I did in your words Ms. Candyce. Thank you for that gift ma’am. And yes, your link (especially the farm animals) moved me deeply. God’s blessings ma’am. While I may pass from this earth before Christ’s return, I pray I do so with nothing left in my often-refilled cup.
I’d never heard the phrase before I heard my preacher use them, JD. They’ve stuck with me for a long time though because of how beautifully they express the way I’ve seen Christians die. God’s blessings to you and your farm animals.
You created a beautiful word picture with this post. I shared the visual scene as if I were sitting beside you as you watched this precious couple. I agree it was better than “a sunset so heartbreakingly beautiful it cracked open my soul.” Excellent word weaving!
Thank you, Lisa. I’m thankful God prompted this post. It’s a sweet memory.
Candyce I loved this, I went through my own years, and could also see yours. I think of moms trip to the ocean with you and Mike, we need to live each day making those memories not just for us but for the ones we leave 😘❤️
You’re so right. Our legacy is the most important thing we leave behind, and we must be intentional about it. I so enjoyed the time at the beach with your mom. Experiencing her joy was so rewarding,
Candyce, thanks for sharing this sweet event you witnessed. What a great reminder of how our lives can be enjoyed up to the last moment. We can look forward to our welcome into our new home with Jesus.
Amen, Barbara. Let’s live it to the fullest!
Truly beautiful, Candyce. I love this.
Thank you, Terri. I know you’re a beach lover too. Thanks for reading!
Candyce, this is beautifully written. You had me right there on the beach and as someone approaching their age, you had me traveling back through their memories too. I look forward to reading the Twenty Dying Wishes as well.
Blessing, my friend,
Jackie Freeman
Jackie, your comment means a lot. It was one of the more meaningful things I’ve ever observed, and I’m sure my age has a lot to do with that! Thanks for taking the tine to respond.
I loved your message today, Candyce. It warmed my heart and brought tears. The promises of Jesus assure us of His love and grant us peace for eternity. Thank you for sharing this message of love and hope.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Katherine! When we view life through an eternal lens, the day-to-day anxieties and struggles fade away. Keep your eye on the prize.