Hazel was weary and not doing well at all. Her body, crippled with severe arthritis, was beginning to deteriorate and she was unable to move or walk anymore. She had fallen numerous times, banging her arms, legs and ankles to the point they were badly bruised. Her feet and ankles were now infected. I was concerned for her, but knew that she was ready to meet her Lord.

I visited often, finding her on the floor or just unable to move herself. There were numerous times when I would arrive at just the right time to help her get back in her chair. She had folks popping in and the Hospice nurses were on a daily schedule now caring for her. It was just a matter of time. She was 94 and counting. She wanted to be with her beloved Joe, who had died in 1971 and she knew he was waiting for her. . .

We would visit about all manner of things and she usually had a little job for Joe, who always came with me after Sunday church service. She so much enjoyed our visits and we wondered just how many we would have left. She would have him change a light bulb, retrieve something that she wanted from at high cabinet or just change the batteries in her little radio. . This is the dear friend for a number of years, who sent a beautiful basket of fruit with a Christmas bow and a tiny potted Poinsettia. It came by delivery from a local florist just a week before Christmas

The Poinsettia was quite dry and wilted and the leaves were falling off. I thought it caught a chill while being delivered. I never said anything to Hazel, but thanked her for thinking of me at this special time of the year. She said she wasn’t able to go shopping, bless her heart. Her mind was still sharp and I so admired her strong faith and strength.

Hazel has been gone now nearly a year and a day don’t go by, but what I think of her. I nursed the little plant back to health and it is alive and well a year later as you can see from the photo. It thrived outside for the summer and then rested in the cellar till November. As winter came, I put it in the window where the sun came. Slowly an amazing thing happened-the new leaves are tiny and began to turn red. It is nearly a year since Hazel’s passing and her Christmas Poinsettia reminds me of her love and friendship.

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