Will We Be Ready?

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. —1 Thessalonians 4:16, KJV

This morning, while watering my garden, I noticed the dew on the roses. The beautiful pink blooms glistened and sparkled in the early morning sunlight. They reminded me of the lyrics, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.”* Then I remembered this song was my great-grandmother’s favorite song. She had a rose garden, a vegetable garden, a berry patch, carob trees, a pomegranate tree, a fig tree, and rows and rows of aloe vera. My great-grandmother loved to be in her garden early in the morning, tending her plants. A woman of faith, she loved God and had a special place in her house where she would kneel three times a day and pray for her children, grandchildren, the church, and her neighbors. My great-grandmother was involved with a group at her church called Willing Workers.

These women worked hard and provided scholarships and gifts to young people headed to college. They also helped young mothers who needed things for their children. I was with her in her home when she died. She had gotten up as usual and opened all the curtains to let the sunshine in. My great-grandmother had her devotions, lay on her bed, and went to sleep in Jesus. She was faithful in this life, and I know she will hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21, KJV).

I would like to be like her and share love and not hate with those in the world around me. Our world is full of hate and violence. People are angry and want to hurt others. We see it on the news every day—hate crimes, ignorant behaviors, and violence toward women and children. We know we are living in the last days of Earth’s history.

Will we strive not only to make a difference but also to be a difference in the world? Will we show God’s love to our families and those in our sphere of influence? Jesus is coming soon. Let us be God’s hands and reach out to a hurting world.

Eva M. Starner

* C. Austin Miles, “In the Garden,” 1912, public domain.