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.