Those who are wise

will shine as bright as the sky,

and those who lead many to righteousness

will shine like the stars forever.

Daniel 12:3

 

Years ago, my cousin Ronnie brought Linda into our big boisterous extended family—where she soon became a favorite cousin-in-law—everybody loved Linda. And the most often repeated comment about her was, “She is SO sweet”.

 

Always talking, smiling, laughing, hugging, kissing, and encouraging. If something negative was uttered in a conversation with Linda, you could be sure she wasn’t the one who’d said it.

 

She cried with me after Dan was killed. And often told me that when she couldn’t sleep well…which occurred more and more often as the cancer progressed…that she always prayed for me when she’d awaken during the night.

 

She’d told me a couple of months after Dan was gone that she was making me something special, but it was going to take her a while because she wanted it to be just right.

 

Near the one-year anniversary, she brought a shadow box over to my house—and it was just perfect for me—the colors, poem, scripture and even the song she’d added to the back.

 

She told me she’d bought a beautiful card years ago and promptly placed it in her car’s glove compartment. She said she’d occasionally think she should send it to someone, but never did. Then after Dan was killed, she said she realized why she’d never used it; that it was meant for me—to remind me—that our loved one’s love never ever ends and that we’re separated only for a short while.

 

The light of a distant star

continues to reach the earth

long after the star itself is gone.

In the same way, the Light and

Love your loved one gave will

continue to shine in many hearts.

 

And now it’s Linda’s turn to shine bright.

 

(Linda Head Collier – 7/13/55 – 8/14/15)

 

“Ma’am, ma’am! Please come here,” insisted a man standing behind a book- piled table in the St. Louis airport.

 

Slowing my sprint as I headed toward the escalator and baggage check, I turned and reluctantly rolled my bag over to his table.

 

“I’m giving all the lovely ladies this free book today,” he said smiling; and handed me a beautifully covered devotion sized book.

 

He continued talking as I skimmed its front and turned it over to read the back cover. Realizing it was a compilation of new-age Eastern religion teachings, designed to help me find my own “perfect path to enlightenment” I laid it back down on the table.

 

I looked him in the eyes, smiled, patted my chest and said “Jesus Christ” and turned to go.

 

He said, “What do you mean”?

 

I said, “He’s in here”, continued smiling and began walking away.

 

He said, “You still have to find your own path to perfect enlightenment”.

 

By now I was across the way and about to reach the escalator.

 

Still smiling, I said, “Oh no, He did it for me and His grace covers me”.

 

By now, I was on the escalator and his voice was raised to reach me.

 

“No! Jesus didn’t do that for you! You have to do it yourself”!

 

I smiled really big, nodded my head, and said, “Oh yes. He did”.

 

And then the escalator raised me out of his line of vision.

 

And God was there. Over the years I’ve had a number of specific times when I knew God had just provided the words…and all I had done was open my mouth and let them tumble out.

 

…God will give you the right words

at the right time.

Matthew 10:19