The boxes are all packed. Cupboards and closets are empty. Only a few pieces of furniture remain in the house my father-in-law and mother-and-law built in 1982. The house is a little tattered and worn now, but it was a warm and inviting home for them. They loved this place that they named "Pinebrook."
Because Grandma passed away back in February, the house is being emptied, and then it will be professionally cleaned, before going on sale this summer. Since I live next door, I'm doing most of the work, in bits and pieces, and I take my time to be careful.
So it happened that I opened a file cabinet I thought was already empty, but I was surprised to find it still filled with pictures. Others had already checked this cabinet, but no one wants these pictures. So be it. I will take them. Because even though this house is all but empty, it is still filled with memories. So many memories.
As I glance through the pictures, I see some are of my wife's great-grandparents--from Estonia. There are pictures of my wife's grandparents. And high-school pictures of Terry's parents. Then their wedding pictures, and a picture of her parents taken in the Northwoods just before my father-in-law, Dick, left for the army. Then the pictures jump ahead to the time I joined the family. Our wedding pictures. Then pictures of this now-empty house as it was being built. Then family gatherings. There's even one with me in the foreground--being me, the prankster. Standing on one of Pinebrook's decks in blue coveralls. I had jammed a pillow inside the front of my coveralls, and another in back. I was wearing swampers. I made sure to push out my stomach for added effect. Terry's family is seated behind, laughing. (As I ponder this picture, it seems sadly prophetic…but hey, I am losing weight!)
Then come pictures with my daughter, Tori, a newborn. Then pictures of her when she was still an infant, including the infamous one where we made her wear a goofy-looking cow-suit she was given by her grandparents. Then more pictures over the years of family. There are lots of pictures of the property I now own, including step-by-step construction of what is now my home, and several outbuildings. More pictures--of trees planted and gardens attempted. (Both of my in-laws had black thumbs.) Of more family gatherings. Thanksgivings. Christmas celebrations. Smiles. Laughter. So many memories.
Memories that can't be boxed up and taken to Goodwill or the dump. Memories that flood my thoughts most days. Often they bring a smile. Sometimes a few tears.
Until there comes the whisper. A gentle whisper. Always a gentle whisper, from my gracious Lord. His whisper varies, depending on the day. But it is His Spirit who tugs out words He had me tuck away in my heart long ago--many during youth confirmation. Those whispers include…
John 14:1-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am."
As I look around my in-law's empty house, I see all the things I should have fixed. A trim board here. A broken light over there. But not so in heaven. Never in heaven. Jesus is the architect, contractor, and skilled craftsman who has already built mansions for all our Christian loved ones who have passed over into eternity! Mansions that will never wear out. Never look tattered; never need an upgrade. And when our time comes, He will do the same for us. Even better? Jesus is the financier for our mansions. He has made payment for them--in advance! 100%. There is nothing left for us to pay. Our proof? His cross. (See Romans 6:23, 1 Peter 2:24)
Another whisper:
Revelation 21:4-5 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.” The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “Look, I am making everything new!” He also said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Memories now often bring a tear, coupled with the painful thought, "I really miss you." Or, "I used to could…but now my hip gets cranky, and my back is shot. I feel useless." Not so in heaven. Never in heaven. Instead, there everything will be new--forever new. The Lord's couples this promise with his divinely stamped guarantee: "These words are trustworthy and true!"
And then comes this whisper, the one the Spirit tugs out of my heart the most.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words."
I will see all my Christian loved ones again--in heaven. No more sad good-byes. No more empty boxes. No more yellowed pictures. No more memories. Rather, we will be together--forever--with our Lord.
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
Because Grandma passed away back in February, the house is being emptied, and then it will be professionally cleaned, before going on sale this summer. Since I live next door, I'm doing most of the work, in bits and pieces, and I take my time to be careful.
So it happened that I opened a file cabinet I thought was already empty, but I was surprised to find it still filled with pictures. Others had already checked this cabinet, but no one wants these pictures. So be it. I will take them. Because even though this house is all but empty, it is still filled with memories. So many memories.
As I glance through the pictures, I see some are of my wife's great-grandparents--from Estonia. There are pictures of my wife's grandparents. And high-school pictures of Terry's parents. Then their wedding pictures, and a picture of her parents taken in the Northwoods just before my father-in-law, Dick, left for the army. Then the pictures jump ahead to the time I joined the family. Our wedding pictures. Then pictures of this now-empty house as it was being built. Then family gatherings. There's even one with me in the foreground--being me, the prankster. Standing on one of Pinebrook's decks in blue coveralls. I had jammed a pillow inside the front of my coveralls, and another in back. I was wearing swampers. I made sure to push out my stomach for added effect. Terry's family is seated behind, laughing. (As I ponder this picture, it seems sadly prophetic…but hey, I am losing weight!)
Then come pictures with my daughter, Tori, a newborn. Then pictures of her when she was still an infant, including the infamous one where we made her wear a goofy-looking cow-suit she was given by her grandparents. Then more pictures over the years of family. There are lots of pictures of the property I now own, including step-by-step construction of what is now my home, and several outbuildings. More pictures--of trees planted and gardens attempted. (Both of my in-laws had black thumbs.) Of more family gatherings. Thanksgivings. Christmas celebrations. Smiles. Laughter. So many memories.
Memories that can't be boxed up and taken to Goodwill or the dump. Memories that flood my thoughts most days. Often they bring a smile. Sometimes a few tears.
Until there comes the whisper. A gentle whisper. Always a gentle whisper, from my gracious Lord. His whisper varies, depending on the day. But it is His Spirit who tugs out words He had me tuck away in my heart long ago--many during youth confirmation. Those whispers include…
John 14:1-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am."
As I look around my in-law's empty house, I see all the things I should have fixed. A trim board here. A broken light over there. But not so in heaven. Never in heaven. Jesus is the architect, contractor, and skilled craftsman who has already built mansions for all our Christian loved ones who have passed over into eternity! Mansions that will never wear out. Never look tattered; never need an upgrade. And when our time comes, He will do the same for us. Even better? Jesus is the financier for our mansions. He has made payment for them--in advance! 100%. There is nothing left for us to pay. Our proof? His cross. (See Romans 6:23, 1 Peter 2:24)
Another whisper:
Revelation 21:4-5 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.” The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “Look, I am making everything new!” He also said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Memories now often bring a tear, coupled with the painful thought, "I really miss you." Or, "I used to could…but now my hip gets cranky, and my back is shot. I feel useless." Not so in heaven. Never in heaven. Instead, there everything will be new--forever new. The Lord's couples this promise with his divinely stamped guarantee: "These words are trustworthy and true!"
And then comes this whisper, the one the Spirit tugs out of my heart the most.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words."
I will see all my Christian loved ones again--in heaven. No more sad good-byes. No more empty boxes. No more yellowed pictures. No more memories. Rather, we will be together--forever--with our Lord.
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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