The first time that I met her she was in hospice care at Agape House here in Hamilton Bermuda. It was not a good day for her. She was in a great deal of pain and discomfort. I stayed only for a short period of time and left. 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 little prayer. She agreed and so every week thereafter we would always bring our visit to a close with a Bible reading and a little 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.” She was referring to her death and so 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 humor 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 Savior. 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 that 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. I left Agape that day and while descending down the hill I thought to myself. “Lord, it is all up to you now. I can’t do anything more please give her the peace that she needs.” Then I said my, “Amen.”
A few days later I went in for a further visit wondering if there would be any change in her outlook. 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 visit that day began as most of our visits began. “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 Andrews (Joan & Bill Davis) along with myself witnessed our sister in Christ make her profession of faith and she was welcomed into the church following which 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.
Less than a week later I received a call from the staff at Agape. Initially I thought it was the call we all knew was coming at some point in the near future. But no, it wasn’t. My friend had asked the staff if they would phone me and see if I would come for a visit. The fact that she had asked to see me meant so much to me. Over the weeks I like to thing that we had indeed become good friends. She wasn’t able to talk much on that visit. But when I asked her husband if he had requested the nurse to call me, she was quick to point out with her finger that NO it was her who had made the request. I was so happy. We had our devotions and I left. The following Sunday her husband told me that she had slipped into unconsciousness and that time was running short. I visited her early Sunday 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 what she called 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.”
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| Rev. John Fraser, husband David and elder Bill Davis |
Many times people ask the question, “Why, why, why, why doesn’t death or as my friend called it “the Big Step” come sooner for people in her state?” The Bible gave me the answer in the case of my friend; let me share it with you. John 14:3 Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you will be also.” The initial place that Jesus was preparing for my friend was her heart and once her heart was ready once He called her she invited Him in as her Lord and Savior. Now she was ready for her homecoming.
The question which all of us should be asking of ourselves today is; “Am I ready to take the big step. Could today be the day that God is preparing our heart to meet him? “Does Jesus live in our heart as our Lord and Savior?’
