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As I listened the other day to FoxNews, I heard the most precious story of a couple married for 72 years. By now, you’ve probably heard about them. But I just couldn’t help writing about them.

Gordon Yeager proposed to his sweetheart the day before Norma graduated from high school. They were married the next day, the day she graduated, May 26, 1939.

They were always by each other’s side. Each saying they had to “stick around” for the other. They truly enjoyed being together, even though they had their arguments.

On October 12, 2011, Norma and Gordon suffered extensive injuries in a car accident. They were rushed to the hospital and put in ICU. The hospital workers knew not to separate them and pushed their beds together. They held hands even after the morphine took affect and they became unresponsive.

The injuries were more than their bodies could withstand or recover from and at 3:38 p.m., Gordon died.

The son noticed that his father had stopped breathing but his heart had continued to register on the heart monitor. Confused, he asked the nurse about it.

She told him that because the two were holding hands, Gordon’s machine was picking up Norma’s heartbeat...her heart was beating through him.

Exactly one hour later, at 4:38 p.m., Norma died.

Hand in hand in life; hand in hand in death.

Sharing one casket, they held hands. After cremation, their ashes were mixed together.

Such a sweet love story. They had their ups and downs but always wanted to be with each other.

The one thing that blew me away was...her heartbeat beating through him. One heartbeat beating as two. One heartbeat of a living one beating through one dead to this world.

Isn’t that what the Lord wants for us? To be dead to this world yet have His heart beating within us? To be connected to Him throughout life, walking hand in hand. And in death, still holding His hand.

photo courtesy Mollivan Jon @flickr
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning upon her beloved?”
SOS 8:5 NKJV
Wandering in the wilderness, I languish. I yearn for my Beloved. I suddenly become aware of His tender presence.

He’s there, awaiting my nearness.

I draw close.

He reaches out His nail-scarred hand to greet me, drawing me to Himself. He accepts me, no matter what my mood or attitude.

“Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.” (Ps. 23:4 TLB)

He is my divine Beloved.

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” (SOS 6:3 NKJV) I lean in, resting my full weight upon Him. I hear His heartbeat. My heart quickens.

He supports all my weight. He lifts the wilderness burden I carry. He brings me up out of Lodebar, that dry, pastureless place of lack and want. “He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength.” (Ps. 23:2-3a TLB)

My heart quickens again. “Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to Him.” (Ps. 28:7 TLB)

*Are you in a wilderness wandering?

*Do you draw close to Him while you are there? “And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you.” (James 4:8 TLB)

*Do you realize your Beloved is there with you, for you to lean upon? Are you “Leaning back against Jesus” (John 13:25a NIV) as the beloved disciple John did?

*Do you allow Him to carry your burden upon His shoulders? “Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them.” (Ps. 55:22 TLB)

*Is He your Beloved? Or does your love for another fill your heart more than your love for Him?

In your wanderings, take the first step to draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. Lean upon your Beloved. He awaits the weight of your burdens.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NKJV)