I Had The Wrong Rose...But God Knew

Remember this post on Friday Foto Friends day? (Click HERE)  Well, I had the wrong rose. But God knew all along...

God provided another, even more beautiful rose that started to open up yesterday morning...

And as the day progressed, so did my mother-in-law's progression into peaceful sleep...

 So I brought the rose inside, because I didn't want the bright sun to burn it like the other one, and also because it appeared that this was truly going to be "Nanny's Rose"...

"Nanny" (Vivian) with her sons Johnny and Billy
The inset picture was Nanny holding baby Johnny.

Today, the rose fully opened...(as the other original rose from last week wilted away in the background), and as the day progressed, the rose bloomed, and Nanny left this earth for her heavenly home...

And now the "Martin Sisters" are all reunited once again...Here they sat together many years ago in front of some lovely roses that were painted by Aunt Dorothy...

Sisters Dorothy, Daisy Pearl, Nellie Mae, and Vivian

And my mother in law and father in law are rejoicing to see each other after so many years...

And the great "cloud of witnesses" are all celebrating Vivian Ruth Martin Steiner's entrance into heaven.

And just perhaps she is being escorted by our son Matthew to her new "log cabin" mansion in the sky...You see, our son Matthew had always promised Nanny that he would build her a log cabin someday...and he drew this one for her many years ago. She often mentioned that Matthew was going to build her a log cabin someday...but Matthew preceded her to heaven about four years ago.  The past few days when she would be so fidgety and somewhat agitated in her declining state, I reminded her that Matthew was probably working really hard on her log cabin to get it ready for her...and on her last day of being able to communicate with us, that brought a big smile to her face.  When it seemed as though she was delaying her departure from this earth, taking a long, slow journey to her final destination, I kept thinking that Matthew was probably still hammering in the final touches to her log cabin, and when it was finally finished, she would be headed "home".

Log Cabin drawn by Matthew E. Steiner for his Nanny many years ago

Matthew with his Granddaddy Steiner, 25 years ago...Granddaddy was giving Matthew some grandfatherly advice just prior to Matthew's wedding.  Now they are part of the welcoming committee in heaven for "Nanny Steiner".

You may ask where I ever got such a crazy idea as anyone receiving a "log cabin" or "mansion" in heaven?...Well, I may be stretching the idea a bit, but here is what Jesus told His disciples before He left this world for heaven:

John 14:1-6

1."Let not your heart be troubled;

You believe in God, believe also in Me.

2.  In My Father's house are many mansions;

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3.  And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you may be also.

4.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."

5.  Thomas said to Him,

"Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

6.  Jesus said to him,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me."

So, yes, Jesus said that He would prepare a place for us...and perhaps He enlists the aid of some of the saints who are already there to help prepare those "mansions" in glory? Who knows? I believe we will have many pleasant surprises awaiting us in heaven.  Maybe even a "log cabin", built with love from Jesus and those who love us...anything is possible!  Whatever it is, it will be more lovely than anything we can even begin to imagine here on earth...

And so we comfort ourselves with the thoughts that "Nanny" is now being introduced around heaven by Jesus Himself...and she is rejoicing in all the beauty and glory that is now her heavenly home...something even far greater than a log cabin, I am sure...and someday, when our time here on earth is done, we too, will be welcomed into heaven and "Nanny" will be there cheering us on with all the great "cloud of witnesses" as we enter the gate.   

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 

by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight, 

and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

Who for the joy that was set before Him 

endured the cross, 

despising the shame,

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Amen.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers for our family during this time. You have all been such a blessing to us.