When Grandma Flew Home

The night sky was crystal clear, the morning she flew home. The finger prints of God stamped all over the heavens. The comet's heavenly trail displayed His handiwork. But bound to lower plains, the mourning doves cooed softly. They did not mourn, but heralded the presence of the Spirit. At their coos, the noisy crows flew away. No more chaos. No more pain.

I sit and see pavers, etched with the word peace, lining her path to heaven. A peace pathway laid by prayer and His presence. Her journey to peace guided by the one true Peacemaker. But first, family cheered for her, just as she had cheered for them on our earthly plains.

And little ones, learning it was time for her to leave, joined praying hands, after a day of water and laughter, and asked Jesus to share their love with her. “Meet her at your gate Jesus. Tell her how much we love her. Please thank her for all she did for us. Thank her for loving us.” He heard them and as the doves coo, I hear, "I told her. She knows little ones.” She was greeted at the gate with words of love and grace. Truly, she met Grace and Love at the gate.

That evening, the boy sees yellow foiled chocolate chicks and starts to say, "Grandma would love..." but he pauses. He knows grandma is in the land in between. He's unsure. Can she like earthly things anymore since she's heavenly bound? No longer with us, she's back in the fertile crescent, the land in between the waters, where dust came alive and she's becoming alive again. I finish his thought for him, "Yes, you are right. Grandma would love these chocolate chicks, she really would." Big smiles all around. Cause we know she really would love them. She delights in chocolate chicks and her children, grandchildren, and great-grands too!

She always delighted in you. She who sent Easter cards and saved Easter stickers. She always remembered you. She added color and love to our lives. She was not perfect, but she had time and an encouraging word for all who would listen. She weathered many troubles in her life and yet her face was so unlined. She gave her troubles to God. She folded her hands together and she made Jesus her stronghold. Psalm 46 was her favorite passage. Her Bible was always near and her Jesus never far. He now holds her hand. This Easter season, she is rising with her Lord.