The sobering news came through the phone call from the Vitas staff person, “He’s not well… it may be soon.” “What do you mean?” I questioned myself. Confusion gripped me as I pondered the meaning of those words. Just a few days ago, I had been with Carmine, a remarkable 95-year-old soul brimming with life. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he insisted on propelling it himself. I spent several hours with him asking him various questions to probe his heart as he told me his life story. His memory was amazing and the stories gripping! One narrative that stood out was his affectionate recollection of his mother. She faithfully trekked to church nearly every day, fervently praying that the church would relocate closer to her home, given her challenging journey. God answered her prayer, and the building across the street became her sanctuary. He smiled as he remembered her devotion to God, how He specifically answered her prayer. Her legacy was one of selfless service, a woman who prioritized others above herself.
Could it be that her dedication was fueled by raising eight children, all of whom served our nation during World War II? Or was it shaped by her experiences during World War I, followed by her marriage to a war veteran? The “Greatest Generation” witnessed and endured great sacrifices, enabling them to empathize on a profound level with the suffering of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I don’t believe you can compare ones suffering to another however it was the Apostle Peter who encouraged us with these words in 1 Peter 5:10-11: And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen”. In Carmine, there is a reflection of the faith his mother held. A faith which I believe he also possessed. This faith carried him right into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ on September 23, 2023.
As I sat at his bedside the day before he entered eternity, I boldly with assurance read him the Scriptures. My voice was strong as I reminded him of his forgiveness, his shelter in God’s grace, and his righteousness in the eyes of the Almighty Creator. This is not because of the life of service he led for others and his country, nor because of his mothers devotion to her family and God, rather it stemmed from the atoning sacrifice for sin paid by God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly bore the cross, died, and was resurrected. I reminded him of the hope he has in Jesus because, as Romans 10:9 declares, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead would soon welcome Carmine as he transitioned from this life to the next.
I celebrated with him at his bedside as his physical body was failing, that we would both be resurrected one day and live in glory with Christ in the new heavens and earth. He has assurance that he would see his beloved mother soon again as she has gone before him to glory.
In contemplating the role of death in our lives, we find that God uses it to refine us. Whether we witness the passing of others or face our own mortality, it serves as a reminder that God is in the process of restoring all of creation. We hold onto the hope that sin and death have not triumphed, for Christ conquered both through His death and resurrection. He extends the same promise to all who believe in His Son, Jesus.
Today, Carmine, I miss you deeply. However, I vividly recall our last moments together, when Dunkin and I sat with you, gently stroking your forehead, and uttered, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your Master’s rest.” I am grateful for your role in reminding me of God’s promises. I look forward to the day when we shall meet again, my friend, in the splendor of eternity. What a glorious day that will be!