ALICE LAY IN A LITTLE ROOM by herself,
Inside a hospital,
Built on what once was a cow pasture in Roswell, Georgia.
She asked my mother to let me know she wanted to visit with me for a while.
So, weak-kneed, I rose from my waiting room seat and quietly slipped in.
She had fallen into a little nap. So
I sat alone with her, holding her hand as her life slowly ebbed.
She seemed so peaceful, and I wondered if I had arrived too late. A few moments later, her eyes opened. She smiled and addressed me by the pet name she always called me, Then gestured to me as though I were at a distance.
“I’m right here.” I grinned.
Looking at me intently, she calmly said, “Remember.”
“What would you like for me to remember, Dear?” I whispered.
Through broken sentences, she mentioned a painting;
One that had graced her family room wall for decades.
It was a copy of the Last Supper;
She repeated, “Remember.” I nodded, “Of course.”
Then, with wider eyes, she pointed at me and said,
“This is what I want preached!”
Yes, ma’am?” And she began to quote a passage from the Bible.
Again insisted, “Remember.” I assured her, “I will.”
I scrambled to find a pen and paper to scribble her thoughts and wishes.
I couldn’t recall exactly where the scripture was found,
But I would do that later.
She would fall asleep, and awaken, and sleep again—
Quoting the Psalm while awake
Mumbling while asleep.
Eventually, she finished her request and shook her finger toward me again, saying,
“That’s what I want preached!” I smiled bigger, “Yes ma’am!”
It was the last time we spoke.
I read the entire Psalm at her funeral. Her words are forever etched in my DNA.
What an amazing “goodbye gift!”
Today I “preach it” again to you,
As she never limited me to preach it only once.
Many troubles have plagued me since that day.
But Alice's gift is with me. And the effects of every trouble (so far) have been "fixed."
I remember.
Amazingly, no matter what kind of twists and turns happen in my story, (And there have been a few doozies), the "key" works. I simply run to God for help, a door opens just in time,
And the solution to the problem lies in plain view for me to choose
And accept.
I’ve never fixed anything alone. Handling things MY way usually makes things worse.
Follow the link below to Psalm 34. See for yourself. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+34&version=MSG). Here is a teaser: “Open your mouth and taste, Open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.” (Read "Bread Crumbs" for more)
God provided for me a wonderful grandmother who, with her last ounce of life, Gave me the key to unlocking the solution for every trouble in life.
And now you know . . . So, remember!
©️ Copyright 2018, Gary Landerfelt, MyPericope.com
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