Counting my blessings.

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“Ruthie’s last shrimp.”

 

I have lived 27,393 days in a hurry. Those days have passed so fast that now I am running out of time on earth. I now have a new appreciation for the gift of time and life. I love to serve and now I have very little time left to do so and that saddens me.

 

When Ruthie and I went out to eat at a restaurant, she found a great delight to pop the “last shrimp” into my mouth. Not that she did not like shrimp but all to the contrary. Precisely because of that, the last shrimp made it back to my memory and into this letter.

 

Ruthie did not give out of her surplus of love but out of the most precious balance as sign of the kind of spirit that governed her life. She was happy making others happy. She made Jesus easy to follow because indirectly she mentored me by having been mentored by Jesus himself.

 

When the needy would knock on our door, I never asked Ruthie how much I should give them, because I knew she would totally agree with any amount I decided.

 

Ruthie had a “modus operandi” when it came to “handling me.” She would say: “Just listen to me and after that whatever you decide, I will submit myself.”

Some husbands might say, “That is great and become little dictators” … not this one. I took her level of trust in me as a complement and I tried to live up to her expectations and sought to please her as my Queen.

 

I loved that girl! Death before dishonoring Ruthie.

 

At seventy five when lying is not to my advantage I dare say “I have truly loved only one girl in my life.” Thank you Sweetheart for the last shrimps. Thank you Jesus for your Ruthie.

 

This letter comes to you as one of my last shrimps.

 

Gerry Gutiérrez.

 

PS. Jesus said, “A new commandment I gave you, love one another as I have loved you, by this they will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”