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I’m a romantic at heart. I still believe in till death do us part. I know a couple who did just that, my grandparents, I knew them once as “Pop-Pop Jim” and as he called her affectionately his, “Miss. Patty.” They were married on August 3rd, 1946 after he returned from World War II. I could share the trials, victories, sorrows and joys they faced together, what made their marriage a true love story. All that matters is they were committed to the end. They raised three children and had a dozen grandchildren. They even saw two great-grandchildren before they passed away only eight months apart from each other.
This story is about them and a strange encounter I had on what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. It happened over the internet. Some say I was dreaming. I’m not so sure. It had been a busy day. On their 50th I took flowers to their grave, where they lay side by side. Now a wife and the mother of four, I hadn’t had time to drive to their little country town.
It was after ten and I sat alone on the couch, laptop in hand. Missing days gone by, I googled their names, silly I know…they had been gone for more than a decade. Nothing came up of course, but oh how I’d love to hear from Grandma again. To feel her warmth and Grandpa’s sense of humor, together they made some of my best memories.
I remembered I needed to work on my Bible study so I switched engines and headed towards the gateway to God’s word. Soon I was reading about Heaven’s promise, and how Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. Suddenly a notice popped up on my screen, a Patricia wanted to live chat with me.
“Patricia?” I whispered to myself. I yawned trying to remember where we may have met. I didn’t easily give out my contact info. The computer urgently flashed at me again. I clicked on it and from there I was taken to an almost iridescent screen.
“Hi Katelyn. How are you?”
“Who is this?”
“Grandma”
Yeah, right. Sure I thought. I checked the top of the screen and it said Windowsfromheaven.com and as I read it, a peace fell over me.
“Oh, how I’ve missed you. There’s so much to tell you, so much to ask. How’s Grandpa?”
“He’s good, out fishing in the Crystal Sea. Before you ask, no bait, no hook-the fish hop on eventually and then he tosses them back in. God knew how much men loved fishing. Your son loves to go too.”
“My son?”
“Yeah, you were right, the baby you lost. He loves to go out with my Jim. They have a ball. He helps me pick strawberries like you used too. He looks much like your other children.”
“Oh my, how I’ve wondered.” I typed, tears in my eyes. The moment was surreal. As she shared this small window of heaven with me, I took in the view and treasured it in my heart.
“I call him Jamie.”
“We know, we do too. He can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too.” Tears poured from my eyes.
“Honey, you’re not going to need those here. So don’t practice so much there. That life is short, I know it sounds clique but it’s so true. For us it will be like tomorrow and you will be here. Live well, live blessed.”
“Grandma, I love you. Tell them both I love them please.”
“We know and we love you too.”
I felt my husband touch my shoulder, whispering, “Honey, It’s almost midnight.”
“I’ll be up in a minute.”
Glancing at the screen, I found it on the gateway page, with John 14:1-6. My eyes fell to verse three. ‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’ I smiled and thought what a wonderful dream.
I clicked the “x” at the top of the screen and as the computer shut down an image appeared on the screen. It was of a sparkly shore line and the silhouette of a man in a fedora with a fishing pole and a young boy in a baseball cap. Before I could save it the image was gone.
I sat a moment and then bowed my head and thanked God for windows and gateways possible only through Him.
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