The first time I met BeBe, she was in hospice care at Agape House, Hamilton, Bermuda. It was not a good day for her. She was in a great deal of pain and discomfort. In the following days I would drop by for a little chat. Initially that was all that it was, “just a little chat.” Perhaps it was on my third visit that I asked her before leaving if I could share a few verses from the Bible with her and have a prayer. She agreed and so every week thereafter we would always bring our visit to a close with a Bible reading and a prayer. I looked forward to our visits and I like to think that she did as well. We became friends. One day I opened our conversation with the question. “How are things today?” She replied, “I am getting ready to take the big step.”
We talked about death and what takes place after death. I asked her what she would like me to say at the service that would mark her passing. She had a sense of humour and replied; “Tell them she’s gone.” That was it! She’s gone. Her departure was usually a part of our discussion on every subsequent visit. She wanted to talk about it and I was willing to listen. I asked her if she was frightened and she replied in a somewhat uncertain tone. We talked about the afterlife and the possibilities that await us, both positive and negative. She had her doubts. I asked her if she would like to ask Jesus to come into her heart as her Lord and Saviour. She said yes and so the prayer request was honest and straight forward. I prayed and she consented to the prayer.
“Lord, I am a sinner. I am lost without you. Come and live in my heart. Forgive me my sins and allow me the peace of your presence.” Amen.
We talked about trust and faith and the promises found in Holy Scripture. I told her when the time was right, Christ would come and usher her home. “Trust him. He will be with you. You will not take that big step alone.” I also reassured her that God would give her the faith that would allow for trust.
We weren’t thinking of, nor did we ever ask for, a cure for her disease. We were much more concerned that she would experience the peace that the Bible speaks of even in the face of death. My next visit began as most did: “It’s good to see you and how are you today?” While I took note of her relaxed look I heard her say; “I’m not as frightened as I used to be, I just have to trust and have faith.” I said, “Yes, and God will give you that trust and faith.”
That visit was on a Thursday and before I left I asked her, “Would you like to make a profession of faith and join the church from your room, here at Agape?” She smiled and nodded yes and there was a sparkle in her eye. She asked me, “What will I have to wear?” I replied, “What you are wearing now is just fine.”
I told her that after she joined the church we could celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together. She thought that was great. So, the very next day (Friday) her husband and two elders from St. Andrew’s (Joan and Bill Davis) witnessed our sister in Christ make her profession of faith and she was welcomed into the church. We shared the broken bread and the glass of wine representing the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We then presented her with a certificate of membership.
The following Sunday her husband told me she had slipped into unconsciousness and that time was running short. I visited her in the early afternoon. There was another faithful caregiver by her side. I spoke as if my friend could hear every word, which she probably did. I told her that God was coming very shortly for her and she would be home—free of her cancer, free of pain, free of grief, free of sorrow, free of tears. I shared with her Psalm 23 and verses from John 14 as well as Revelation 21 and 22. I offered a prayer and I left. Her heavenly father came for her early the next morning. My friend had finally taken the big step.
If you want to know what it is like where she now calls home, she and I would both say, “Read the Bible.” The initial place that Jesus was preparing for my friend was her heart and once her heart was ready she invited Him in as her Lord and Saviour. Now she was ready for her homecoming.
