Faith Under Suspect

Not long before my mother passed, I was visiting her back home in Virginia. On the second or third day of my visit, my mother asked me to come pray with her. She was bedridden at that time.  I was sitting with my sister, Irma, in the Living Room of our home. We were talking in general, and we were both listing anything Mother called for or needed.

Mother called out to me, "Come here, son … and pray with me"! I was a bit surprised! But Mama, I said, "Sister Irma is here also, and she is much better at praying than I am!" I want you to pray with me, son," Mama said. I walked into her room and over to her bedside, and I began to pray. After my prayer, Mama said, "Very well done, son. I was a bit concerned about your faith, and now I feel much better". Again, I was a little surprised but not totally! At that very moment, the following came to me:  

Mama, I said, let me tell you about how I see Heaven.  In Heaven I see people, Angles I guess, all setting around a big  table … with God who was sitting at the head of the table. Mama, you have seen a football field, right? Yes, I have, Mama replied. Well, I said, as I see things, Heaven will appear much like a football field. There will be people sitting all around the sides. And like at a football game at the center of things the announcers would be keeping the spectators abreast of the game … And in Heaven, God would be speaking to his Angeles.

I continued.  I see all our family members scattered through the bleachers, just like the bleachers that you would see scattered around that football field. Some are sitting very close and can see things better as the game unfolds. They are the lucky ones who were able and willing to pay a higher price for their tickets. And in the case of Heaven, sitting around God's table, I see Uncle Joe (No doubt one of God's favorite Angles), I see Grand Ma (another of God's favorite Angles), and I am pleased! As I continue to look around, trying to spot other family members, I notice Uncle R. and Uncle Chest. I see all my aunts and Dad. I see almost all of our family members, seated throughout God's bleachers. Mama, I see them all, and YES, Mama, I see you as well. You were sitting right beside Uncle Joe.  BUT unlike the others, Mama, you were constantly looking around to make sure all our family members were there, and finally, Mama, YOU saw me!  I was a bit further away than the rest of the family, Mama, BUT please worry no more, as I am here too!

After I told Mama this little story, she shed a few tears (I did too). Mama said, "Now I can rest, son, now I can rest!" 

This story is as close to the truth as I can remember. And as I know, Mama, she is still looking around and will be the first to greet us as we arrive! - I intend to keep my part of the bargain with Mama and if you will join me … I will see you guys there as well! I Love You Guys ... But for me … I must be honest … I see God a bit differently that most of my family does … Just as Mama had always suspected!  I have always believed that God has already given us everything we have ever or will ever need, and because of that, I probably have not called on him as much as I should have.