Aging and death are inevitable parts of life.
While the thought of dying doesn’t frighten me much — in fact, I find it to be a natural, even beautiful part of existence — what truly scares me is the loss of independence that can come with old age. The idea of not being able to care for myself, to use the bathroom alone, or to recognize my own children feels far more devastating.
Maria was spending her final days in a care facility, fully aware that her time was running short.
A lifelong singing and piano teacher, Maria deeply missed the presence of music in her life. But fate had a gift in store for her — one of her former students, Joshua Woodard, happened to be working at the same care home in Austinburg, Ohio.
Joshua had been her student since he was just nine, and they had a meaningful connection. When Maria shared that her last wish was to hear “How Great Thou Art,” Joshua didn’t hesitate to make it happen.
Reading the lyrics from his phone, he sang the beloved hymn for his former teacher in a deeply emotional moment.
Marti Adkins Redmond reflected, “Hospice workers are angels, but Joshua is truly one of a kind. Maria, who taught voice and piano in her younger years, had the joy of hearing one of her childhood students sing to her one last time.”
Maria’s sister-in-law captured the touching moment on video, preserving the beautiful farewell between teacher and student.