Family
7
After my needed nap and a brief supper with Virginia and Gracie, I escorted both of them into the den to the unfinished Christmas tree. We had work to do. The three of us worked diligently trimming the tree with countless colorful glass ornaments and ribbons of gold and silver. In less than an hour we had it completed … or so I thought. Gracie left the room, only to return shortly with one more ornament. It was one she made in school. It was an angel, looking much like Gracie herself. She handed it to me to hang prominently on the tree. I placed it at the end of a branch about midway on the front of the tree, just under one of the small white lights. Their tree was beautiful. We then spend the rest of the evening watching a video of It’s A Wonderful Life. Somehow, that title took on a new meaning for me.
As we watched that classic Christmas film, seen by millions every year since 1946, my mind drifted-off to wondering how I was going to tell Gracie about my situation … or should I? I then noticed that she’d fallen asleep and it was getting close to the end of the movie. Gracie was curled up in my lap with her head resting on the arm pillow. It was then that I woke her up to watch the memorable conclusion … when the little bell rings and an angel gets its wings. She remembered that part and thanked me for waking her to see it again. With that, we all called it a day. Indeed it had been – quite a day. As I drifted off that night, I wondered how Amy and her three girls were doing. I was pleased that I could help that situation….
Sunday morning at my house was no different than any other day. But I was not at my house, but the home of my daughter and great grand daughter, so I did what they did. Virginia told me that usually Grace would be picked up by a neighbor down the road and they’d take her to church with them. Virginia just took it easy, would read the NY Times (mostly the Book Review insert), drank coffee or tea and later would make dinner for herself and Grace, when she returned around noon. Yet, somehow, that didn’t sit well with me. I suggest she call her neighbor not to pick Gracie up that morning … but that we would take her to church. Somehow that idea came right out of left field as I said it, and we both looked puzzled by my suggestion. Virginia, never being one to argue with logical reason, accepted my gesture and got ready to go to church. Gracie was excited and pleased that we were going to be with her in church and later that night at her school, that eventful Sunday evening.
Arriving at the church where her neighbors that ordinarily took Gracie, she introduced me to Jason and May Matthews, her personable and accommodating neighbors. They were delighted to meet me, and said that Grace spoke of me often. As we entered the small stone church, I couldn’t help but wonder about the Jason’s comment. Gracie hardly knew me and had only visited with me once for a week four years ago … yet, she spoke of me to her friends? I was humbled.
The church service was nice … the Christmas music, the flowers, and even the sermon … though a bit long for my taste. Gracie sat between Virginia and myself and was quite attentive – more so than I thought a nine year old child would be. When the minister read from the Bible, Gracie picked up a Bible from the pew in front of us and turned right to were he was reading. I never heard him mention a page number. When the minister prayed, Gracie pickup up my hand and held it in her hands. My great grand daughter was amazing to me. On the way back to their home, Gracie thanked me again and again for taking her to church. I thought to myself, that I still wasn’t sure what made me offer to do so, but I was glad I did, nonetheless.
8
After a light lunch together, we parted company … Gracie went to sleep for a while in her room; Virginia then read her book review section in the den, and I went to my room to sit and contemplate. I noticed a small section of bookshelves across the room, next to a small window overlooking a garden, or the remnants of one; it was winter after all. I perused the collection of books and my eyes fell on a small red book with an interesting title: If You Knew Then What You Know Now, by somebody named Cartwright. I pulled it from the stack of other books and went over to sit in a comfortable leather armchair next to the window. Before I did, however, I removed the folded afghan from the chair and put it over my legs as I sat down to read.
Somehow the act of reading, the warmth of my covered legs, and my relaxed state, I fell asleep at some point while reading the little red book. The book slid off my lap, hit the hardwood floor and woke me up. Awakened, I realized that the story, which I apparently did read, was about a man, much like myself, who was given a special gift. His gift was a gift of knowledge. He was able to discern things before they happened, and how he used that prophetic knowledge to benefit others and himself. I thought how my own checkered life would be different had I known many years ago what I know now. Hindsight is always perfect. My problem was, I was old in my years, but young in my understanding of such things … why things happened the way they did and when they did. Who was in control of the things that surrounded us? And I wondered why I was the one chosen to help those folks back near Prosperity? There just seemed to be too many questions and not enough answers to it all. It was then that Gracie knocked on my door, even though it was open. She was up again and wanted to see me before she left to go to her school to get ready for the Christmas pageant that night. She handed me a white silk scarf and wanted me to wear it that night, so she could find me in the audience. I thanked her and told her I would, as I kissed her hand, the one that offered me the bright white scarf.
Later that night, while sitting in the school auditorium with my daughter and a few of her university friends, I waited patiently to see my great grand daughter. The lights dimmed and the pageant began as the heavy curtains drew back to reveal a scene that was somehow familiar. Then I realized that it was the scene I’d seen so many times before; usually in the front yards of homes or on courthouse lawns, or in some store windows at Christmas time. The children were posed as ancient figures surrounding a small bed and a baby in it. They even had a small donkey and a couple of well-behaved goats standing with them on the stage. It was then that Gracie entered from the right side and lifted her arms and said her line: Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy! After she finished her pronouncement, she looked out and made eye contact with me and we both smiled. Then the children began to sing Away In The Manger … and then I knew what the scene was all about. It had been more years than I could remember since I’d heard or seen that bible story, the one depicting a baby named Jesus, with his mother and father and the shepherds, and the bright star. I wasn’t quite sure what the details were all about, but it was a pleasant bucolic scene nevertheless. And Gracie was part of it all. I wished that her mother could have been there to see it too. Mary was missing the most precious remaining time of her daughter’s life. After a few more songs, the school presentation was over and everyone got their children and proceeded to leave the school. I didn’t see who the animals went home with.
Later that Sunday night, sitting with Gracie near the fireplace in the kitchen, drinking some hot coco with little green and red marsh mellows, that Gracie added to each mug … the three of us just enjoyed each others company. Before we decided it was time to go to bed, Gracie asked me for a favor. Anything you want darling, I’ll do it just for you, I said. She asked me if I would take her to her special place tomorrow afternoon? Before I could ask it, I then realized that she wasn’t in her school anymore, because of her disease, even though the school was in session for another week before the Christmas holidays, remembering what Virginia told me earlier morning. I acknowledged her request and told her the two of us would go.
9
Monday morning came and with it came my breakfast in bed. Gracie, with Virginia’s help, made me French toast from sourdough bread, with warm maple syrup, fresh orange juice and a red Christmas mug of hot coffee, black … all just the way I liked it. I thanked them both for their kindness and started to enjoy my breakfast, when Gracie stated that she’d see me at noon … for our date together. Okay, I said. I’ll be ready. Virginia left for a nine o’clock class at the university. She said something about Pythagoras, Isaac Newton and Voltaire, whatever … it was over my head. She only had two more classes to teach that week and she was through until early January, when classes resumed.
Christmas was a full two weeks away, yet every moment I had with Gracie was Christmas for me. She was my present. Noon came and I was ready for my date with my Gracie. I dressed warmly, even though it was unseasonably mild for that time of year in central Kentucky. Gracie came into my room wearing a bright red turtleneck sweater with matching pants and white riding boots. Are you wanting me to go riding with you … on a horse? I asked. I’d love it, but Grama told me that she didn’t think you’d ever been on a horse before … so, no, we’ll just walk to my special place, after you drive there.
After I drove us to her place – a place where she and her riding instructor took her and some of her friends to go riding … I parked near an overlook and we got out and took a small bag she had fixed for us. Our date was to be a picnic somewhere.
Together we walked for about ten or fifteen minutes to get to a where she wanted us to go … to her special place. Most of our walk together was uphill, though nothing steep, and I managed it just fine. Once we arrived, I could immediately see why it was so special. Gracie’s place was a narrow cliff overlooking a small meandering river below. What made it interesting to me was that the river was not just running parallel to where we were, but it formed a horseshoe shape bend below us as we overlooked the nameless river’s slow flow. The bottom of the horseshoe was closest to our position as we sat down to soak-in the view of the river and the rolling countryside of bare fields, bare trees, and countless clumps of dried sedge grass. The mountains of eastern Kentucky loomed in the distance like old centennials’ standing guard. Other than the dormant plant life, we were the only living things as far as we could see. The sun was warm and the air was cool, making it perfect for our picnic. Our meal consisted of two chocolate pudding cups, two perfect bananas, a small zip-bag of mixed cashews, raisins and gummy bears, and two bottles of something called Zip, whatever that was. My great grand daughter told me that the gummy bears were her favorite. Mine too, I told her, not knowing what in the world they really were. It was all good and we both enjoyed being together, enjoying each other’s company … in her special place.
Looking down at the river, about a hundred or so feet below, I mentioned, as if imparting knowledge to my own great grand daughter that the horseshoe bend was in the right place for us. We were at the bottom of the open end of the horseshoe; that way the luck wouldn’t run out … but I didn’t believe in luck, I said. What do you believe in Poppy? Well…, I hesitated, I guess I believe in – me. I always have and it’s gotten me this far. Deflecting the subject away from myself, I asked her what she believed in. Without hesitation, she said – Jesus. Do you know Jesus, she asked. Before I could respond, and perhaps for the better, she stated emphatically that Jesus Christ was the true Christmas story. For the next while, while cleaning up our picnic area and supplies, Gracie proceeded to tell me in understanding terms what Jesus was all about, who he was, why he came as a baby, and what he meant to her. But mostly what Jesus meant to her was that she wasn’t going to die. That remark stopped me cold. I didn’t know what to say to her. Didn’t she truly know what was happening to her, I questioned myself? Gracie stated very convincingly that she said she knew all about the cancer and what was going to happen to her. Soon she said, I’m going to die, but I know I will live forever with Jesus. My soul will have a new body and I will live in Heaven forever. The innocence of her remark was profound to me. It moved me to think how fleeting our lives really are. I then thought I would be as open with her has she had been with me.
Gracie, I said looking directly at her and holding her small hands in mine, you obviously know what’s happening to you, your body, and your life. That’s a lot to deal with for such a young girl, but I’ve seen how you’ve handled yourself. I’ve watched you, heard your thoughts, and seen the joy in your eyes, all while knowing what’s happening to your body. You have developed into a fine young girl who has matured beyond her years. I just want you know that your great grandfather loves you so very much. I then knew I had to tell her. And there’s something else I think you should know. She looked up at me with her beautiful eyes, almost knowing, what I was about to tell her. Gracie, I too am going to die soon. I too have a cancer that is destroying my life. It’s different than yours, but it’s cancer just the same. Oh, she cried, I want you to live with me!
She was not shocked by my news. She just wanted me to be with her now and in Heaven . But how?, I asked her. By believing like I do, Poppy . I believe in Jesus. Like I told you … he came to save us all from our sins and eternity in Hell. We all will die, but our souls, our mindful spirits will live on forever. We will either live in Heaven or Hell. The choice is ours. And that is why I chose Jesus and Heaven … and I want you their too Poppy – choose Heaven – live with me, won’t you, please? But how can I do that Gracie? We’re both dying soon and we will be gone forever, I told her. Yes, forever in Heaven, if you’ll just ask Jesus, she said.
10
What happened next on that precipice of Kentucky geography overlooking a river without apparent direction, defied anything I had ever experienced in my tattered life. My only great grand granddaughter took me by my hand and motioned for us to kneel near the edge of the overlook. Nine year old Gracie, kneeling close to me, started to pray in a voice that sounded like angels singing. In her innocent and very knowing way, she introduced me to God and his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit within her. I was somewhat confused and not completely sure what she was saying, I just knew in my heart, that what she was saying was for me. Gracie then asked me, in her prayer, if I wanted to be forgiven of all of my sins, for all of the times I had not done the right thing in God’s sight … did I want His forgiveness? I sobbed, yes, please God, yes. Then will you accept Jesus as your savior and let him be your way to Heaven with me? Yes, I cried. It was then that I felt it. It was as if a heavy load was removed from my tired shoulders, as if I could almost leap off that cliff and fly away. Gracie, then thanked God for listening to our prayer and told Jesus to be ready for both of us soon. She said – Amen, and so did I. I’d never said it before in my life. I was so weak from listening and praying with her, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get up, let alone walk back. A minute or two later, we both stood up, hugged each other, and Gracie thanked me for the most wonderful Christmas present ever – my salvation.
Starting back down the path I realized that Gracie was tired, yet from somewhere, my strength had regained itself, so I put her up on my old shoulders, and together we started back home. She softly sang a song I had never heard before: Jesus Is My All To Me. Again and again she sang words that had new meaning to me.
When Gracie and I drove up the winding driveway to her home later that afternoon, Virginia was waiting for us at the side door. I didn’t get time to tell Virginia where Gracie’s special place was before Gracie jumped in between us and told her grandmother her good news. My daughter’s reaction was what I expected, but I didn’t care. What Gracie didn’t tell her, however, was my terminal status with my own cancer. She at least had the presence of mind to let me tell Virginia in my own way. I was thankful for that, at least.
Over supper that night, was going to be grilled salmon and asparagus with hollandaise sauce (my favorite). Virginia asked me, before Gracie came down to join us, what was my salvation all about? I told her that I wasn’t completely sure yet what it was, but that it defiantly was what Gracie and I wanted in our lives: to know that we both would live in eternity in Heaven together someday. Gracie, can tell you better than I can, I stated with assurance. It wasn’t until after our delicious meal, with just my daughter and I, that I decided to tell her everything: about my life and about my afternoon with Gracie. Gracie earlier told Virginia that she was tired and for us not to wait on her for supper. She wasn’t hungry.
Later, sitting by the fireplace, enjoying some hot tea and our slices of fresh mincemeat pie Virginia baked that afternoon … I told her everything. For once in her life, Virginia was at a loss for words. What she was confronted with was the knowledge that both Gracie and I were dying – soon. And that we both were going to live forever in Heaven. At that moment, I wasn’t sure which news item hit her the hardest. Oh, I knew she would not like knowing that I was dying. But I was her 86 year old father and fathers always die – sometime. I just knew, however, that my death was immanent … and I didn’t mind anymore, because, as of that day, I knew I would rest in Heaven eternally with my dear great grand daughter, Grace, and our savior - Jesus. Her mother Mary didn’t name her Grace for nothing, I retorted. She became my saving grace today. She showed me the way to my forgiveness, my salvation, and my eternal destination. Virginia, your grand daughter and I are both at peace about it all. We only wish you knew Jesus the way we do and could accept him into your life as well. But I, however, being much older and wiser than Gracie, know that you think Jesus was just a teacher or a prophet or something in ancient history. Right? Again, Virginia looked lost for words. Don’t you see it dear … it took an innocent child, my great grand daughter to bring me to my knees and ask for forgiveness for my fractured misguided life. That little girl introduced me to God this afternoon and asked him to forgive me. I asked him to forgive me. I asked for his salvation and to show me his path to eternity … where I will be living forever. Don’t you see it? The message is so clear and so simple, even a child can understand it. We experienced sophisticated adults are the ones who make it so difficult. We reason that life must be complex, compound and convoluted for it to make any sense or have any worth. That’s just plain wrong. Jesus came as a baby into this tormented world not to govern us but to save us. On our way back to my car Gracie pointed to a flock of small birds near the path we were walking. They were in some kind of trouble, we didn’t know what. But we could not do anything to help them. Then she said something profoundly philosophical. Her objective and insightful remark was … that for us to really help the troubled birds, we’d have to be one of them, so we wouldn’t scare them. She then said that that’s just what God did for us … he came to us as one of us. Oh father, I need time to sleep on all of this, Virginia said. I was trying to tell her that my concern for my daughter was more about her salvation than about my death. We both stood up and embraced one another as a father and daughter. She then turned and whispered good-night as she left me standing beside the fading embers in the warm fireplace.
11
Two full days past before Virginia could bring herself to respond to my fireside discussion and confession. I knew her to be an insightful woman who thought things through very deliberately. That’s what made her a good professor, I’m sure. She said to me that she had a lot of questions, just a lot of them … but she also wanted to know the joy that Grace and I had shown. She knew she wanted that in her life. I told her that I most likely didn’t have all of the answers to her questions … that I just accepted God’s truth on faith. I didn’t have to be able to see it or feel it or hear it … I just knew in my heart it was true, and accepted it at that. Gracie showed me that. God’s message was shown to your community last Sunday night at Gracie’s school. God came to earth as an infant, just like all of us – only he was God in human form, so we wouldn’t be frightened. He came to save us from our sins and offer us eternal salvation in Heaven. That, dear daughter, is the truth of it all! Do you see it now?
Thank you father for sharing all of this with your daughter … who has been marinated in agnostic academia. I want to believe you, I just want to know more. Its my nature I suppose.
Saturday, a week before Christmas, Gracie understood that her grand mother and I had talked and that Virginia now knew everything. That night, after supper she asked us to meet her in the den, near the Christmas tree. So summoned, we took our desserts to the den and awaited Gracie’s return. Wearing her white pajamas and bathrobe, Gracie looked like an angel. She was carrying a book in both hands. It was her Bible, the one her teacher at her school gave her when she heard about her leaving school because of her cancer. She asked us to be seated. She wanted to read to us a story from her Bible. It was written by a doctor, his name was Luke, and it was all about the story of the first Christmas. Virginia and I listened intently to a small girl dying from a disease that would soon take her away. We looked at each other and upon hearing Grace read the second chapter of Luke to us, we realized that we’d heard it before, but this time we listened with a new insight, with a new purpose …
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all of the world should be taxed….
Virginia and I sat silently as Gracie earnestly read from her Bible to us.
…And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. …
As she read with deliberate poise and grace, in her white robe and bunny slippers, I knew that God must be watching. At that moment, out of the corner of my eye, I could see snow falling in the beam of the porch light. A warm sense of peace filled the room as we continued to listen…
…And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us. …
Virginia sat patiently, but her face was streaming with her tears, and she made no motion to wipe them away. I reasoned those kind of tears were tears of joy. Gracie finished her reading…
…And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
We thanked her for her splendid reading of the first Christmas. Then Virginia got up and walked over to Gracie and asked her … she asked her if she would lead her in the same prayer she prayed with me when we were on our picnic. Now … my weathered face was streaming with my own tears of joy.
We all knelt beside the tree and Gracie repeated her earlier prayer, the same one she lead me in after our picnic, overlooking a river that seemed to go nowhere. Now, however, we all knew where our ultimate destination would be. It took an angel to show us the way.
That night I slept soundly. Better than I had in my entire life … a life lived hard, but now I rested knowing that this Christmas was already very special. All of us in that house, that night, were Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, the God who came to save us all.
Later that night, we were awakened when Gracie woke up with abdominal pains and her temperature was elevated. Virginia called 911 and the local EMS unit from Paris arrived in ten minutes. From there Grace was taken to Lexington’s Children’s Hospital, where her pediatrician had her admitted right after we all arrived to be with her. LCH had a renowned cancer clinic, specializing in children.
Once she was stabilized, Virginia and I spent the rest of the night trying to sleep sitting up in the waiting area, outside Gracie’s room. In the morning, after Dr. Abrams made his rounds, we spoke with him in private. His prognosis was expected. He said the cancer was invading her liver faster now and destroying the liver tissue. It was now only a matter of days before she died. With that blunt understanding, we went to see Gracie and said we’d be back later that day. She was mostly asleep but understood that we’d be back to visit her that afternoon.
Virginia and I left to return to her home. Our drive back in my SUV proved to be a silent trip. We both felt like we had been hit in the stomach and were unable to talk. The reality of it all. We brewed a pot of tea but didn’t eat anything. The known reality was gnawing away at our appetites.
That afternoon, as we were leaving to go back to LCH, Virginia noticed a taxicab coming up her lane to the house. It turned in and stopped near us. The back passenger door opened and out stepped … Mary Ellis. The taxi left, leaving a surprised look on all our faces. I almost didn’t recognize her … she looked almost twice her age of twenty-eight, and without makeup and her hair shorter than I remembered it being … well, we both were surprised and delighted to see her again. Mary was surprised to see me there and I was equally surprised and delighted to see her too. She then told us that a friend of hers was a dispatcher for the Paris EMS. Her friend thought the patients name and age might have been her daughter that she remembered her mentioning once. We stopped our time of re-acquaintance in the breezy courtyard and decided to go back inside. Mary brought nothing with her but a small purse. Virginia took her to her room to help clean her daughter up, and to find something clean to wear that might fit her, before we all went to LCH to see Gracie.
On the trip back to the hospital, our time was spent catching up on our time since we were last together. It was just newsy chatter, nothing more, and certainly nothing of any substance.
When the three of us entered room 417 we found Grace was sedated and under a morphine IV drip to help with the pain. Other lines leading from various machines to her seemed to be everywhere. I think I counted at least eight different tubes or wires leading to or from her bed. Everything was being monitored and recorded. It was a daunting sight for all of us. Such a precious child. A nurse entered and asked who we were. With that, she told us that Grace would probably be sedated for the rest of the day, to help her remain as comfortable as possible.
My daughter and I knew what we needed to do. We told Mary that we were going to the hospital Chapel to pray. Mary took no note one way or the other, but said she’d just sit there with Grace until we returned.
Virginia and I finally walked to the Chapel, which seemed a long way away from the Gracie’s rooms. We were alone and for over an hour we both prayed silently, and then finally we shared our spoken prayers with each other and with God, our newfound source of peace and … grace. Before we left the Chapel, I suggested to Virginia that we not tell Mary about me … just yet. She was unstable yet sober enough to visit her daughter, but more talk of death might upset her further. She agreed and we returned to room 417. To our surprise, we found Mary sitting on the edge of her chair, softly praying for her daughter. Standing there quiet and motionless, we heard Mary ask God to take her life instead of Gracie’s … that she would do anything to save her daughter. It was then that God spoke (as far as Virginia and I were concerned) when we saw Gracie open her eyes slightly and say…. Mommy, there is something you can do. Oh Grace, oh Grace, it’s me; I’m here beside you, holding your hand, said Mary tearfully. What can I possibly do for you? Tell me please… Grace looked up at her mother, with her eyes now wide open, and asked her … to trust Jesus and let him into her life and heart … like he did for Gama and Poppy. Mary then looked in our direction then back at Grace, then back to her mother. Virginia said, Mary – listen to your daughter, and let her pray for you, right now. It was then that Virginia and I heard a familiar prayer, spoken from a little girl dying … to meet her Jesus. Mary just said repeatedly – yes Lord, yes Lord, yes… as her dying daughter finished her prayer of salvation for her mother. When she was finished, the three of us huddled around Gracie’s bed and held one another for a long time. Gracie looked up at all of us and smiled like an angel, the same smile we saw in the Christmas pageant. Then just as quickly as she had regained consciousness, to see us and pray for her mother, she returned to her state of sedation – forever. Her time had come to be with Jesus.
Our tears at that moment were tears of eternal joy and selfish sadness. When the monitors went flat the nurses entered to check … and then pronounced the time of Gracie’s death. It was listed as 4:17 PM.
12
That night, after we had made arrangements with the funeral home in Paris, we sat quietly in the den, looking at the Christmas tree. I remarked about the angel Gracie made and showed it to Mary. Mary asked if she could have it? Of course, we said in unison. You may take it after Christmas, her mother told her. Let’s leave it on the tree until then. Mary nodded in agreement.
It was then that I asked both my daughter and my grand daughter if they realized what had happened … what happened because a little girl, our angel, cared enough to show us the way and save us all, by introducing us … to Jesus. We’ve witnessed miracles here, I told them. Miracles are things that defy normal understanding and that cannot be fully comprehended unless supernatural power is allowed to make them happen. My daughter the philosophy professor said … how true, how true. But I didn’t realize that until Grace entered my life … as she entered yours as well. What greater Christmas gift could any of us have received? Grace made it all happen – because she trusted Jesus, and asked each of us to trust Him too.
Two days after Gracie’s funeral service, and a few days before Christmas, Virginia and I were confident enough with Mary’s new faith and her obvious turnaround in her personal outlook on life … that we took her up to Gracie’s special place. Neither of them had been there before. And Mary certainly didn’t know her daughter had a special place. Therefore, it was a joy for me to share that unique place with them, late one afternoon, well before sunset. Once we got there … to the overlook above the Horseshoe River (I named it, in honor of Gracie) I told them what she did for me there. Every detail of it I could remember. Virginia then shared with Mary that Grace did the same thing with her too, by the Christmas tree. All three of us were on our knees, thanking Grace for showing us the way. She was our angel of salvation. Then Mary, with tears in her eyes told us that she realized that her life had been a travesty, a joke, a waste. She lost her sense of reality after her husband was killed and only got deeper into her denial. Grace was the only life that meant anything to her, and she proved unworthy of that responsibility. Then with a smile, Mary thanked her mother for being there for Grace, and now for being there for her as well.
We both looked at Mary … and I said that there was one piece of understanding she needed to know about. Mary said not a word, but looked on with concerned wonder. I told her that I too was going to die soon and that I was going to be watching over Gracie in heaven. And that was an assignment I was looking forward to. I told Mary as much of the details as I felt she needed to know about my pending death from a simple melanoma and cancer in my brain. Her silence spoke volumes. Mary just wrapped her arms around my neck, like Gracie once did, and rubbed her hand against my back to say she was so sorry to hear about it all … but thanked me for bringing her there to Gracie’s special place to tell her.
The three of us stood there silently, looking across the river, watching the sun get lower toward the horizon behind us, leaving us enough time to safely get back to my transportation
Walking back, Virginia looked up to spot the bright evening star, the only star we could see in the twilight sky. We all knew who created it and why and we praised Him for it and for leading the way. Before Gracie, however, it was just a distant matter of solar mass called a luminary point of light and millions of years old that came for a big bang, according to the educated elites of this humanistic world. But now … now we knew better, and our newly found love for each other put us on a different path with an eternal future with Him. We knew who created it all. Our questions were answered. Yes, we all knew a lot of new and wonderful things … thanks to Gracie and the unfathomable loving grace of a merciful God. - Amen
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Addendum… (NOTE: due to text only submissions, the image mentioned below is not seen. However, If you ask nicely, send me your email address, I'll sent the full MSWord document with the photo image of the autograph ... and my thanks for your having spent the time to read my little story. I'm new to writing. Thank you.
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The image above is an autograph I collected in 1957 … indeed, I personally asked for it from Mitsuo Fuchida. So, why would I want an autograph from a man who was … the lead bomber pilot, a Captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service that attacked Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941? Because, when I met him (I was 12) he was a new Christian, converted from Buddhism, and was working for the United States at the Pentagon. Fuchida wrote a book about his exploits and his life in From Pearl Harbor to Golgotha. He died in 1976 … the bicentennial year of America, a powerful, forgiving, and noble country. May America always remain so! To this day, I still carry that autograph, to remind me of the gift he received … and available to all of us – anytime.
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