Last week, once again, brought back a lot of memories for me. It was 7 years ago, but I can remember so vividly the days leading up to my husband’s home going the day after Christmas. Perhaps the most special was on that Christmas day itself, as my children, grandchildren and I drove to the VA expecting to find him still in a coma. Instead, he was alert, although still hooked up to tubes, etc. and couldn’t speak. He wrote on a pad of paper little messages and “I love you” to each of us and then looking at me, he wrote, “Almost Home!” I knew he didn’t mean home with me. We sang Christmas carols after a nurse brought in a small decorated tree and we finally said our good-byes. We called this our Christmas miracle as it was an unexpected precious time to spend with our loved one. Only hours later He was in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Yes, I still miss him, but it is so wonderful to know where he is and that one day I’ll see him again. That’s what makes Christmas so special. If Jesus hadn’t come there would be no hope of heaven. We would be stuck in our sins. But praise God, that’s why Jesus came. He is the way; and as the Bible puts it–He is the only way to heaven. He paid the price for our sins with His own shed blood on the cross.
My husband had the assurance of his salvation from scripture and he knew he was “almost home!
Not one of us knows when our days will come to an end, but my prayer is that we can be looking forward to the time when we will meet the Lord face to face. Perhaps we, too, will whisper, “Almost Home;” only to hear, moments later, the voice of our Savior say, “Welcome Home!
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Will Jesus say the same to you?
Marlene, In early January, it will be 8 years since I lost my husband so I can identify somewhat with the emotional roller coaster this holiday can be. But I will always remember the surprise I, too, received that last Christmas morning. Larry was nearing the end of his time, too, but even after 6 weeks in the hospital, no one knew what was causing all the neurological disruptions he was having. He was in a coma like state and it had been weeks since we saw him conscious, but that morning he gave me the sweetest smile and I knew that all would be well. Nursing staff credited it to the two blood transfusions he had had the afternoon before, but I think that you and I both know who was responsible for that gift. Thanks for sharing your experience.