Home Sweet Home
Grace shuffled down the narrow hallway to the small bedroom located at the
rear of her house. The worn gray carpet had little give anymore, making her
every step even more painful. Grace found it so very hard to move lately. She
had to will herself to get up and move. She had never been one to just sit
around, but at the age of 90 she was
well aware of the fact that just being able to move was a blessing.
Every afternoon when the sun was high she would shuffle back to her room, her
special room. She would go and sit in her rocker and just enjoy her room.
As she reached the knob to open the door she smiled. "My," she thought, noticing
her hand on the doorknob, "my hands are so bony and so wrinkled!" There was a
time when they had been so soft; a time when her fingers had been long and slim.
How long ago had that been? Many, many years had passed since then. Grace opened
the door and she could see the sunlight streaming into the room for the back
window. The bright sunlight seemed to warm her whole body. The faded blue
wallpaper still looked beautiful to her. She blinked several times as she looked
around the room. Every wall of the room was filled with pictures, pictures from
her life. No van Gogh or Rembrandt, No sir! These pictures were much more
valuable to Grace than any of theirs could ever be.
Grace walked to an old oak rocker and eased herself into it. Her husband, Tom,
had made this rocker for her in honor of their first child. The rocker was still
strong and sturdy like she used to be. Grace pushed a strand of hair away from
her pale blue eyes and once again noticed how white it had become. Her hair had
been golden blond once, and she had always worn it long because of its natural
wave. Tom had loved her hair. He always kidded her that her hair weighed more
than she did. Grace was only 5'2" and slim built. Her blue eyes no longer had
the gleam they once did. But, there was still a special light in them. Her eyes
seemed to smile.
Grace had married Tom at the age of eighteen and for 54 years she was blessed
with the most wonderful man in the world. They had shared their love for one
another along with joy, sorrow and pain. But, they shared it together. And with
the Lord's help, they had grown strong in their relationship. Oh yes, God had
been good to them. Now eighteen years later she could still feel the loss she
had felt when Tom went home to be with Jesus. She had never gotten over that
loss, and she knew she never would. But, the Lord helped her to go on and go on
is just what she did.
Grace looked at the wedding picture of Tom and herself that hung on the wall.
Oh, so long ago that had been! Time since that day had seemed to fly by. Beneath
the wedding picture were the baby pictures of the two children God had blessed
them with. Richard was the first born, then two years later Janice came along.
Grace and Tom had both their pictures taken often, and these pictures now lined
the walls of her special room. Every wall was filled with family pictures. Oh,
the memories, those precious memories. God had not only blessed her with two
beautiful children but with five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one
great-great grandchild. Their pictures were displayed on every wall of this
room. This was her room, her special room where she could come and read God's
Word and pray for her blessed family.
On a small oval table near the rocker was her family Bible, a little worn from
use, but still readable. Although her eyesight was not what it used to be, she
could still open the Bible and read it everyday. This was her time, a time to be
with the Lord. She knew that without Him she had nothing at all.
Grace reached for the Bible, and as she did, a card slid out of it falling
toward the floor. As she quickly reached to keep it from hitting the carpet, she
lost her balance and fell from the rocker onto the floor. Dazed from the
confusion, she tried to sit up, but was unable to move. She brought the card to
her lips and held it there. This was the card Tom had given to her on their 50th
wedding anniversary. Tom had told her to put it in her Bible at Proverbs 31.
That is exactly what she had done, and it had stayed there always--until this
moment. Grace knew every word that was written inside it. She had read and
re-read it many times. She closed her eyes, seeing in her mind the words Tom had
written to her.
"My beloved wife, our precious Lord has given us fifty years together as man and
wife. They have gone by so quickly. God has never left us. He has been our
Comforter, our Healer, our Banner, and our Peace. Yes, He has blessed us
immeasurably. When I thank Him for all He has given me, I thank Him for you, my
wife. I love and cherish you, my beautiful Grace. Love forever, Tom."
Grace opened her eyes and sighed, "Yes, oh yes, God is so good." She once again
tried to get up from the floor. Using every ounce of strength she possessed, she
was able to get back into the rocking chair. Winded and worn out, she sat back
and took several deep breaths. "Thank you Lord," she whispered. Everything was
so hard to do anymore. She was so very tired. Grace looked around the room. How
she loved this room. It was her favorite place to be. The room was peaceful and
warm. Grace picked up her Bible and opened it to Matthew. She turned to one of
her favorite Scriptures, Matthew 11:28-30 and read it out loud.
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Tears ran down Grace's face as she said, "Oh sweet Jesus, I do lean on you as I
always have. Thank You for loving me."
A brilliant light filled the small room. It was so bright Grace had to close her
eyes. When she opened them again she saw a man in the center of the light. She
knew who He was! It was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! He opened His arms
wide and said, "Come home, Grace." Grace smiled and just nodded, then rose
eagerly and lightly to go with Him.
That evening when Tom II and his daughter Rose came to bring Nan's supper they
went straight to her favorite room as usual. As they walked into the room they
saw Grace sitting in her favorite spot with her eyes closed and a soft smile on
her face. Tom walked quietly over to the side of the rocker, intending to waken
her gently. He soon realized that she was not just sleeping. She was gone. Tears
filled his eyes as he turned to his daughter and said, "Nan has gone home,
honey, Home Sweet Home." He then held Rose in his arms as they both cried. They
did not cry for Grace, but for themselves and for their loss. Tom coaxed his
daughter out of Grace's special room back to the living room so they could call
the family and tell them that their beloved Nan had gone home: Home, Sweet Home.
Sharon Niese nananpopo@wcnet.org