I envied them, so I bought them breakfast!

In January 2019, I spent one month in San Diego. Pastor Jorge needed a vehicle and TLCCM was happy to be able to purchase one for him. For this reason, it was more convenient for me to be in my favourite city rather than in Tijuana. On a few occasions pastors Jorge and Rosa came to San Diego. Together we went to look at various used vehicles hoping to find one that would be the vehicle they needed. I was staying in a short term furnished apartment in the area where Roger & I lived for 15 years. I also rented a car to able me to go and check-out  various vehicles in the surrounding areas. On Sundays pastors Jorge & Rosa had to be in their church in Tijuana, so every weekend I made plans to keep myself busy.  One Sunday morning I had plans to visit Mount Soledad and a few other areas I had not visited in a long time. But before going sight-seeing, I stopped at IHOP (short for International House of Pancakes). It was our favourite breakfast place when Roger & I lived in San Diego. As I walked in the restaurant a nice young lady showed me to a booth near a window and handed me the menu. After I ordered my breakfast, I noticed this elderly couple sitting in the next row of booths opposite to mine. The lady looked very frail, and her legs were covered with varicose veins. She had a walker beside her seat. The man was tall and slim. Their clothing was clean, but it had seen better days. They did not look like they had much money, but they had each other and I envied them. They were eating their breakfast without speaking, nevertheless, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Once they finished eating, they drank their coffee and were talking with one another. As I was eating my breakfast, I could not take my eyes off this elderly couple. As I watched them, my heart suddenly filled with sadness as I thought of Roger & I. It was always our desire to grow old together like this couple, but, there I was sitting alone envying this older couple. So, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to pay for their breakfast. I waived at the young waitress and asked her to give their bill. She asked her manager to come to talk to me. After I explained to the man that this older couple had blessed me because they were old but still together and how much that meant to me, he gladly cooperated with my request. My only condition was that he would not tell them who paid for their meals. He agreed. Discreetly, I took their picture. After a while, I saw the old man waved to the waitress, I concluded that he wanted his bill. I could not hear what she told them, but after a few minutes they got out of their seats and proceeded to go to the cash. I also had finished eating, so I discreetly followed them with both my bill and theirs in my hand. The old man told the manager that when he asked the waitress for their bill, she told him that someone had already paid for their meals. The manager saw me behind the couple and with a big smile he said: “Yes sir, somebody did pay your bill. Now you folks have a nice day.” The old man replied: “Nobody has ever done something like this for us before today,” and they walked out of the restaurant. When I gave the manager both bills, he smiled and said: “Thank you for what you just did, that was really a nice gesture on your part. Have a nice day!” I smiled back at him, and I also walked out the restaurant. I sat in my car and saw the old man help his wife into the car. He then folded her walker and put it in the trunk of his car. He had to lift her legs into the car. He buckled her up and then gently close the car door. From a distance, I took a few more pictures. With tears running down my face, I thought that could have been Roger taking care of me. In this older couple I saw real love and compassion for one another; feelings that Roger & I had for each other. Precious feelings I will cherish for the rest of my life. CONCLUSION: For every husband and wife that will read this article, please appreciate your spouse, take care of her or him and never let any silly details come between you. Cherish each other for you never know the day that you also will be looking at an older couple wishing your spouse was still with you. I will never forget that older couple who for a short time on a lovely Sunday morning reminded me how blessed I was to have known that kind of love. I recently read this comment: Love gets you married, and love keeps you married.

Denise

Yes, TLCCM bought a black 2016 Jeep Patriot for Pastor Jorge. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack in December 2020. Now his son uses the Jeep to drive Pastor Rosa wherever she needs to go.