I stopped in to see Brother Len in the hospital this morning. He's in the ICU after having had his gall bladder removed on Monday. The ICU is mostly a precaution on account of his advanced age. "That gall bladder served me well for 95 years." he tells me. "Can't very well complain."
He's not on any pain medication and was sitting up smiling and giving the doctor a hard time for not releasing him to go home. He's not too happy spending his days in the hospital, something he's had very little experience with in his long life. He's got everybody laughing and wondering how someone so old can still be so well.
His daughters are here. His son came over the week end. No spring chickens themselves. They are fussing over him and giving me contradictory asides as he explains that he's good as new. My money is on Len's opinion, not theirs.
I'm sure Len is anxious to get home and back to the Temple. He rarely misses a day, faithfully serving in the House of Lord day, after week, after month, after year. He's an institution around here. He was Principal of the old Naples Elementary before it was torn down in 1966 or so. Later he moved to Ashley Elementary, where he was Principal during all the years my daughters attended. He seemed very old back then. He still claims that Sweetie was the best PTA President they ever had. He probably says that to all the girls, but the sincerity in his eye tells me he's right.
Like yours and mine, Len's days are numbered and shall not be counted fewer than God intends. I'm thankful that today, God intends to leave him here a while longer. I'm also thankful that He let me stick around long enough to enjoy Len's joyful, wise countenance, one more time. Makes me want to hang in there, like Len.
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