Pat Williams, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic basketball team, wrote a book entitled, “Secrets From the Mountain.” In the book, he told a story about a pastor named Walter.
Walter was married to his childhood girlfriend, Murtis, for 64 years. For them, it was love at first sight. Walter immediately had a crush on Murtis. He got busy and wrote her a note asking for permission to walk her home after school. But first, he had to clean the teacher’s erasers. He asked if she would wait for him. Murtis wrote back that she had to get home, but that she would walk slowly. Obviously, she didn’t mind if Walter caught up with her. This was the beginning of a love affair that lasted a life time.
Many years later, Murtis got very sick. She was the first one to go. As she lay dying, she told Walter, “I’m going home to heaven to be with Jesus.” And then she added, “But I’ll walk slow.”
Some of us have loved ones who have gone before us. Some of us have loved ones on the other side who are waiting for us. I believe with all my heart that they are walking slowly so that we can catch up.
I love the beautiful old hymn that affirms, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.”
I am so thankful today for faith. For Jesus. For the promise of a wonderful reunion on the other side.