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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Ohhh…. (02/04/10)
Heaven Is Really Not That Far Away

It had only been a couple of weeks since my Auntie had gone to her heavenly home. She had lived with us for nine months prior to her death. I loved her so very much, but I had not even had time to cry. There was so much to be done and I was the only one who could do it.

Watching her die was one of the hardest things I have ever done. We lost several family members this past year, Auntie Thelma was number three.

Most people do not believe that death comes in threes, but it always does. I have worked in heath care for many years and have watched death come in threes repeatedly. I have often wondered why, but only God knows the answer to that one. Perhaps it has some meaning with the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or perhaps it means nothing at all, that is just the way death is.

Shortly after my Aunties death, my husband was out of town on a business trip and I collapsed into bed, alone in the house. It was late, or early, depending how you looked at it….about three am. (Hmmm? There is that number three again). I heard my Auntie call my name, and felt a touch on my back. I rose up slightly, looking hopefully for my beloved Auntie. I did not say anything else, but only listened. Her little dog Cody was asleep under my bed and started to bark. Now most may say that is not so unusual, but I have nine dogs, and Cody was the only one who was barking. He crawled quickly from underneath the bed and went running barking happily into the living room. He heard her too and was looking for her. Looking back, I bet he could actually see her. I wish I could have, but someday I will see her again.

My Auntie Thelma and I talked a lot in the months prior to her death about everything under the sun. I told her that I knew in my heart that Jesus loved me and that what the Bible said was true. I also knew there was a heaven and everyone that I ever loved would be there with me when my time came. I had asked Auntie to give me a sign so that I would know she was in Heaven with Jesus. Not because of my doubts, but so that I could tell others I had no doubt, Heaven was real and Jesus loved us all.

This was just one of many incidents where I felt as if my Auntie was not really all that far away. Perhaps that is why I have never cried for her.

The day before the anniversary of my Aunties death a year later, my husband and I were sitting in the living room watching TV, when Cody, her little dog turned and barked excitedly toward Auntie’s chair. Again, with nine dogs, Cody was the only one barking. Neither my husband nor I thought anything about it, though I was well aware of the date and was missing her terribly.

The next morning was a Sunday, and I just did not feel like going to church, but I still woke up with a song in my heart and mind and a chorus that played repeatedly in my head, “Jesus is Savior to all Lord of heaven and earth.”

I then felt a gentle, loving nudge and decided I would go to Auntie’s church today.
When I got there, the service started and it was as beautiful as I remembered from the times I was there with my Auntie. As the service progressed, we came to the sermon hymn and as the organ started to play we sang, ““Jesus is Savior to all Lord of heaven and earth.”

The only thing I could say was, “Ohhh!” as I sang with all my heart and soul.

And then it hit me. Cody was barking at Aunties chair last night, the nudge to get me in church and the song that kept playing in my head as I was getting ready for church was the same song that was playing in the service this beautiful Sunday morning.

As I sat in the pew between my Lord Jesus and my Auntie, I realized once again, heaven is really not that far away.
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This article has been read 546 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Verna Mull
02/12/10
I loved evey moment of reading this. God is so good to give you these special moments!
Lisha Hunnicutt
02/14/10
This was a touching story of God's comfort.
Jan Ackerson
02/16/10
How wonderfully God comforts us in grief!

There were some places where you needed an apostrophe in a possessive (Auntie's), and some other smallish errors to be polished up.

Wonderful truth in your title...thank you.