THE PERFECT STORY. Deepen your relationship by Reading Together.
Kicking off her shoes, she nestled her back against the rolled, cozy arm of the couch. She tucked her knees close to her chest to hold her bible, propping it open to Romans 8. Her right hand guided her fingers gently along his foot and slowly upward, massaging his ankle and calf. She was grateful. She loved listening to him read. She followed along, highlighting the verses that spoke to her, collecting her questions. Tomorrow she would read to him and back and forth they would go. Fourteen months, and everyday the gift got bigger. He looked up from his bible and stared at her from the other end of the couch, he smiled and she returned the grin. She melted deeper into the cushion closing her eyes allowing the quiet darkness to absorb the words she had just heard. The words, these moments had unintentionally, yet undeniably become the essence of her day. They were her glue, her cement, holding her tight to her faith as the unknowns tugged and pulled on the adhesive.
Chasing wisdom and truth felt better than running away from cancer. The two were bound to collide and she knew it. Unexpectedly however, she had discovered a stride that was keeping her two steps ahead of the fear, anger, and emotional breakdown that cancer wanted to trample her with. It was his diagnosis, his battle, but it was her heart that was breaking. Kevin’s glances, his hugs were long and lingering and she held each one close, locking them away in her soul. She knew his eyes, his touch, she had memorized them; the silent conversations they had shared had been some of their most profound. She had stood beside him everyday, physically and emotionally, for three years while doctors prodded, questioned, injected, and scanned. It seemed impossible to catch your breath before the phone was ringing again to schedule yet another appointment. Somehow though, amidst the chaos and bombardment of this cancer storm, reading interceded. It surprised them both.
They didn’t begin with the bible, in fact there was not a notable beginning at all. The first book was Kevin’s, and he began to read on his own. The words had touched his heart and he shared them; before she knew it she was reeled in and hooked within the story. This gift unfolded slowly, sporadically, finishing a book over months instead of weeks. The story within the pages and chapters seemed magnified when sharing the experience out loud with the one she loved. They would often finish laughing, crying, inspired, heartbroken, and changed.
Questions and discussion pursued, taking them outside of their treatment-directed lives and into a future filled with hope. Reading became a habit she didn’t want to break, so she carved out time each day to listen to him tell her stories. They would sit on the patio in the evenings, sipping a glass of wine and reading chapters back and forth. Sometimes they read in the car, but mostly they read on the couch, propped on pillows exchanging foot massages and discussing questions.
God’s timing and hand in this newly embraced reading addiction was becoming clear. This simple task, thirty-minutes each day, was introducing a fresh perspective to her and Kevin’s relationship, both emotionally and spiritually. These intimate moments of learning, growing, and discovering would ultimately reignite a light in her heart that had fizzled and dimmed her spirit. She began with Genesis 1 only seven months ago, reading the verses out loud to Kevin. Everyday since they have read, exchanging questions, unveiling, acquiring, diving deeper, growing stronger, building faith, and letting go. Many books, abundant laughter, puddles of tears, dozens of questions, hundreds of hugs, ultimately leading her to the bible, the best story…the perfect gift.
