Come Before Winter – Chapter Twenty-Nine – the Sound of Grace
December 29th, 2021
2 Timothy 4:21, “Do your utmost to come before winter.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE – the Sound of Grace
Mercy had never cried so much in her entire life. She cried until her insides fell out. Sandboxes gathered in her eyes, the grit annoying and painful every time she blinked, which was frequent. The Cotton Bowl could have been played in her throat as she identified with the hairballs she had seen cats gag up. Pounds melted off her and her dad with the grief. Her innards hurt and her heart felt bruised. They never slept at all that night, and Christmas Day became a faded dream. The doctor came and pronounced her papaw deceased within the hour, and when The Donor Alliance took his body away because he wanted his organs donated to help others, she caved like a lunatic. She clung to his body as she had as a child, begging them not to take him away just yet; her dad had to pry her hands off him as they made it to the doorway. After that and for several days, there was a steady stream of people who stopped by to ‘pay their respects’, they said.
Mercy was mystified. Everyone she encountered was praising the Lord and thanking Jesus. Her papaw was no longer suffering, and on everyone’s tongue, was joy. Tears were shed, but it seemed those tears were cried for her and for her father. The men commemorated his passing with stories of the giant they’d known, the one she had missed. Respect was spoken in capital letters. She was so puzzled by everyone’s reaction; she felt shattered.
Eventually, she took a deep breath and called Patsy. Patsy was elated, then panicked, deflated and very sympathetic and kind. Mercy could hardly tell her story, the grief was so tangled around every word, but she finally got it spit out. Devastated really didn’t even describe how she felt, she explained; she’d just gotten him back. Then she asked in a tiny voice, ‘Patsy, I don’t know what is wrong with these people, or maybe it’s me, but everyone is laughing and joyful and praising Jesus! My Papaw is gone, and they say they are thrilled at his good fortune. How is that?’ She was mortified.
Mercy hung on every word Patsy spoke. ‘Oh, lovely, of course you don’t understand. See, when you accept Jesus in your heart, then there is no sadness. Your grandfather was immediately with the Lord where he will be for eternity. It is very possible that all who are praising Jesus know Him too, so there is no sadness because we will all be together again someday, forever, in heaven.’
‘I asked Jesus into my heart,’ Mercy whispered, ‘But I don’t feel like praising Him that my papaw is gone.’
‘You what?’ demanded Patsy, stunned.
‘I asked Jesus into my heart. Christmas Eve. At the church where my dad spoke. He gave what he said was an altar call—do you know what that is? Anyway, I prayed a prayer and Jesus came into my life. But I don’t feel joyful that my grampa is gone,’ she whined.
‘Oh! my goodness,’ Patsy cried. ‘Oh, my goodness, Michael, come here!’ Mercy heard Patsy yell. Then she heard, ‘Michael! Mercy asked Jesus into her heart! Oh, my goodness!’ Now, Mercy could tell her friend was crying and she listened as Michael in the background clapped his hands.
He came on the line. ‘Mercy, oh wow! we are so excited for you. Welcome to the family! This time in a different manner; God’s family. That is such great news! And you know what, you don’t have to feel joyful about your grandfather passing, because true, you just got him back into your life. But when the pain subsides, and it will, I promise, you will see how grateful you feel that he isn’t struggling any longer and you will feel comforted, knowing he is with Jesus, and also that someday, you will be with him again in heaven. It’s a lot to take in right now, but your mourning will turn to gladness, being a child of God’s. I promise you will understand more soon. We love you, Mercy. Take care and bye now.’
Patsy came back on and Mercy had to admit soon she felt so much better and relieved that she had a promise of spending forever with her papaw, and she even kind of understood when Patsy broke it down for her further. After a bit, Mercy reluctantly said good-bye and promised to call soon with any arrangements that were made.
Then, a knock resounded on the door, and after a moment, Mercy’s dad appeared in the room, carefully pulling the door open. Mercy felt the sting of cold air blow into the room, followed by a swirl of snowflakes. ‘John,’ she heard a familiar female voice. ‘May I come in?’ Mercy choked as the door opened wider and Gwen strode through.
‘Sure, come right on in, Gwen,’ her dad muttered. ‘You’re going to anyway. Mercy’s right there,’ as he pointed in her direction.
‘I didn’t come to see Mercy, although it’s great to see you, dear,’ Gwen smiled at her, but then turned her gaze back on Mercy’s dad. ‘I came to see you, John. I came to bury the hatchet, to forgive you so I can be set free, and so Mercy and Grace can as well. I am very sorry to hear about your father’s passing and I’d like to name one of the wings at Continuum after him, in his honor. Would that be acceptable to you?’
Immediately, Mercy thought wryly of a saying she once had heard. Something about ‘If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?’ She smiled slowly. That’s what it sounded like just then in her father’s den—not a sound, just a belief. That was also the sound of grace—not a sound, just a belief.
Colossians 3:12-14, ‘So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.’ (MSG)
To Be Continued…
