How befitting is it to have the snow coming down as I tell this story.
Many of you have followed the events of Jim Hefty. It was a very difficult time for our friends Jack and Joyce Covell. Jim was her brother. I will need to actually go back to the time that Jim Covell passed away on April 27th of this year. Jack's brother died of an aneurism that took everyone off guard. John graduated from high school with Jim. There was so much to deal with on all our fronts. One of the plants that Jack took home was something that looks like an Azalea plant or bush. What was interesting about that plant was; no matter what Joyce did, it would not bloom. Moving on into the story we know that not too long after Jim's passing, her brother Jim, age, 62 fell to cancer and was in the hospital from June to November 29th.
Already tired and trying to work through all the visits to the hospital and help with his business - His State Farm business was right next door to hers. Here they were also trying to work through Jim Covell's estate.
And then, on Thanksgiving weekend, the family began to say their goodbyes. Jim had a lot of favorite things in life, but snow ranked up right there at the top. Two minutes after his passing, it began to snow in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The family saw that as a sign that Jim had passed onto Heaven and was smiling as the snow began. They all drove back to Auburn to Raymond and Dorothy's home. As they all stood outside, the heavens opened up with snow thunder and lightning. They all smiled knowingly through their tears.
Not to long after Joyce was walking by the plant, now in the house, there they were . . .blooms! Everyone in the family were astonished. Especially since it was now winter and it is a summer plant.
And, if that wasn't enough to warm our hearts. . . the Christmas story.
It was Christmas Eve and John and I were invited to eat with Raymond, Dorothy, Jack and Joyce. Her dining room was breathtaking. Each place setting surrounded in greenery wreaths. We had all sat down, prayed and then Joyce unfolded another chapter in the communication they have experienced with Jim. Now I have always wanted to have something spiritual happen during Christmas Eve and here it was. I thank God for such a GIFT!
Joyce relayed the story of Jim's daughter-in-law Jackie. (married to his son Miles Hefty) They have two sons. One, named Coulter, age 6. Every night Jackie listens to their prayers before bedtime. One night not long ago, Coulter was praying and mentioning his grandpa. Suddenly, he stopped and started smiling. Eyes still closed, he began a conversation with his grandpa, Jim. He would stop at certain points to ask his mother, "Don't you see him, he is right here?" She decided to let him continue. You had to be there, and I can't begin to duplicate the wonderful exchange of words between them. Coulter wanted to know if Jesus was right there? Yes. Is other Jim there with you? Yes. What do you do there? Can you play football? Yes, there is every kind of thing you want to do. Can you come back to us? No! I am healthy and walking and happy here, Coulter. Coulter exclaimed, "I want to be with Jesus." Some day we will be together. Coulter started laughing. Jackie asked him why? He just ran into Jim Covell and knocked him down. Going quiet again, he asked his grandpa if he could come there right now? "No, you take care of your mom, dad, and brother. You spend time with Jesus, tell others, and someday we will have lots of time together."
Whether you believe this kind of interchange or not, you could feel the warmth, the truth of it in the room. It was the Perfect Gift. I knew that I knew, that I knew.
Only topped by Sunday at church. The CLC choir sang Fall On Your Knees and Handel's Messiah - Halleluiah Chorus. What a wonderful way to end 2011 after a big year of extremes.
I don't know what you want for 2012, but I want more of Our Lord Jesus. May He touch us all and bring Conviction (truth), Commitment and Change!
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