Rose | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Rose | Previous Challenge Entry
By Craig Frizzell
05/09/05
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Rose

“That was a touching funeral, don’t you think?” said Rose as they walked beside the stream in a quiet forest. A gentle breeze blew through the trees. Filtered by the leaves, the sun painted patterns in shadows and light on the canvas of the forest floor.

“It was indeed moving,” came the reply. “It was a blessing for the family to see so many come to pay their respects.”

“I know vanity is wrong, but I have to ask – how did I look?” she asked.

“Completely natural. Like you were sleeping.”

Rose smiled up at Jesus, and they walked along in comfortable silence for a while. Although she had left the bonds of her earthly body two days ago, time meant nothing here. It could have been an eternity, or the wink of an eye. The setting was certainly not what she had imagined it would be. There were no clouds, or white robes. As far as she could tell, she hadn’t sprouted wings. She had checked by pretending to scratch her back when she thought He wasn’t looking.

Rose’s thoughts eventually turned to her family. As her smile faded, Jesus asked, “Why are you troubled?”

“I’m not sure. I mean, I know this is where I am supposed to be. It feels . . . right. But I also have regrets about some parts of my life. I made mistakes with my kids. I didn’t show them my love enough. I’m proud of the way they turned out, but I’m afraid it was in spite of me, and not because of me. I thought I would have time to go back and fix it, but now . . .” Her voice trailed off.

Jesus looked lovingly at Rose. With a twinkle in His eye, He said, “Let’s see how you’ve done.” With that, the forest and stream were gone. They were standing in the back of a beautiful church sanctuary, one with which Rose was familiar.

“This is my son’s church. He brought me here whenever I came to visit.”

“I know. I’ve been here often with him.”

She said, “He never talked much about his faith with me. That’s one of the reasons I felt as if I had failed. I figured he only brought me because he thought I would expect it.”

“Oh, he hardly ever misses a service. In fact, he’s developed into something of a leader in the congregation. He makes sure his family is involved, too. His wife and both of their kids are active. Now, who do you think his role model might have been?”

A moment later, the sanctuary faded from view. The scene now before her brought a smile to her face. Her daughter’s family was gathered around the dining table in their home, about to give thanks. Her son-in-law smiled across the table at his wife as their seven-year-old, the youngest of their three children, began to pray.

When the prayer ended, Rose whispered to Jesus, “She is a wonderful mother, isn’t she?”

“Do you know that she prays with them every night?”

“I prayed with her, too, when she was little. But then, as the children got older, I didn’t take the time as often as I should have.”

“But she learned how from you. I’ve been having conversations with her on a regular basis since she was ten. She talks about you quite often, by the way.”

At that, Rose glanced up at Jesus. When she looked back, the dining room was gone, and they were once again beside the stream.

Jesus put his hand on her shoulder. “Rose, do you remember the story I told about the seed that was sown on the four types of soil? Only the seed that was sown in fertile soil bore fruit.”

“Rose, you have sown the seed, and you made sure that the soil of your children’s lives was fertile. They have borne much fruit, and now they are doing the same with their children. My child, you have been a faithful gardener. Come now, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

As her Lord spoke these words, her misgivings faded away like the morning mist under the promise of summer sun.

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