One more gardener in Heaven

Our homeschool group visited the nursing home today. We try to do something there at least once every few months. This time we were planting flowers…the children and the elderly working side by side.

Eventide (my 8 year old) and Hazel worked on this pot of petunias. Hazel dug in the dirt enthusiastically. She was a sweet woman that seemed very happy to be creating something beautiful with her hands. Her mind seemed fully there as well. I took the petunias out of the flat and handed her one at a time. We talked about how pretty they were. How vibrant the colors. “Isn’t God creative?” I told her. “Oh yes,” she said. “They are just like Heaven!”

I told her how just the moment before my dear Grandma passed, she said, “Oh, the flowers!” We knew she was speaking of something she was seeing in Heaven. That memory has blessed me for years, but I’ve seldom shared it. Hazel and I talked about what amazing flowers and colors Heaven would be filled with. I told her how we can have the hope that we will go to Heaven only through salvation in Jesus Christ. I asked her if she had asked Jesus to be her savior and she said no, she hadn’t. But she was so open and receptive.

So I just shared the plan of salvation and told her how we all have sinned and need forgiveness of those sins. I shared that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross and later rose from the dead and lives today. We can know that our sins are forgiven when we believe on Jesus Christ and that we will live forever in Heaven with the Lord. She said, “I could do that.” So I asked if she’d like to pray with me and she did. I had the privilege of leading Hazel to the Lord; showing her the hope offered through Jesus Christ. She was so touched and full of joy. She cried and said she felt so much better. I encouraged her to read her Bible and let the Holy Spirit bring His Word alive. I hugged her and told her that she could find my Grandma in Heaven and enjoy the gardens up there.