A Walk To Heaven

I was at my Great-Grandmother's house following her from room to room and task to task.  The pace was upbeat and full of energy and our conversation was smooth and fluid  keeping pace with our domestic activities. She stepped into the kitchen and from the front room  I could hear her open the back door. Then I heard her talking in a familiar tone, but it wasn't to me. "Grandma, who are you talking to?" I asked.  "Grandpa." she said...

My heart sank.  Grandpa had passed away a few years earlier.  I felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment.  Despite Grandma being in her 90's she was not showing signs of dementia. Maybe it was the starting phases I thought. "Grandma, no really...who are you talking too?"  "Why, Grandpa." she said.  I moved from the front room into the kitchen saying, "Grandma, the neighbors are all going to think that you are crazy!  Grandpa is dead."

As soon as I stepped into the kitchen she said, "He's right here."  She had the door to the back yard cracked open and the light radiated out of the opening.  Light, whiter than white, whiter than bright, pure and clear.  Loving and kind, all knowing, forgiving...There are no words, these are just my best words....

She opened the door all of the way, and the light overwhelmed my spirit.  I have never felt such unconditional love and purpose of spirit..."Where are you going?" Grandma had stepped partway into the light, and I saw her beauty and I saw the depth of her soul.  I felt the presence of God..."I'm going too." I said.  "You cant, Its not your time." Before I could protest, she was gone and I was humbled to my knees.

It was August 1992 , I awoke on a cruise ship in the middle of the Hawaiian islands in the midst of my honeymoon..with the dream or vision above driven through my soul. I know what I dreamt or saw or experienced.the night before.  I knew my Grandmother passed, and I know I stood in the presence of God. I was so worked up I wanted to call home.  This would be no easy feat.  Cell phones were not common like today and we had to wait for the boat to dock before we could locate a land line to call.

I got ahold of my Mom who insisted that everything was fine and that Grandma was doing well.  She even scolded me for calling her on my honeymoon. She told me I should be concentrating on other things!  I stressed to my new husband, that what I experienced was real, and was very confused by my Mother's denial. Regardless of me feelings we enjoyed the rest of our trip.

A few weeks later, I stopped by my parents house with our photo album of wedding pictures and honeymoon adventures.  I went over to my Mom's desk to  find some tape to secure a photo back into the album and I stopped dead in my tracks ...my Grandmother's obituary was sitting on the desk top.  My Mom  saw my expression and quickly interjected, that my Grandmother did indeed pass the night that I had suggested.  She did not want to ruin my trip, and knew of the guilt I would feel for missing her funeral.

I never cried for the death of my Grandmother.  I did not have to. I saw and felt the light, the grace and witnessed her transition from this life to the light of God.  I was given the opportunity to walk her to Heaven and nowI prepare for my own walk one day knowing and remembering the comfort and generosity in that light.