My Heart's Picture

I hold in my heart a picture that developed over the last weekend. I shall try, though my words may be inadequate, to describe the vision I hold in my heart;

Our scene opens on a dense, thick wooded hillside mixed with Ponderosa Pines, Cottonwoods and Quaking Aspen trees. Thick Oak shrubs color the forest floor.  A deep fog has settled in and rests heavy over the woods.  Into this, a beautiful, fair skinned, red-haired, beauty of a woman winds her way down a thin trail through the thick woods.  She is leaving behind misty figures waving goodbye, but she can still hear their soft voices, warm with love.  As she emerges from the woods the warm sun catches her hair and it shimmers like dark polished copper.  She steps onto the meadow and is immediately overwhelmed with the vast magnitude and beauty of what she sees: a field bursting with spring flowers, rimmed by towering snow capped mountains.  The colors have never been more beautiful and the sounds of the forest are as clear as a church bell on a quiet Sunday morning.  She can hear the sound of a creek gurgling close by, not too loud, as the water churns and flows over the rocks.  It's the kind of creek she remembers from her youth, and her heart and mind are suddenly filled with warm memories of playing at Workman Creek with her brothers and sisters.  The air is crisp and clean; just a whisper of a breeze. Taking a deep breath, it feels as though she has never really taken a breath before, certainly nothing like this one!  The scene is captivating, her senses alive. It's as if every flower, every bird, breeze and rustle of grass were created just for her.

Off to her right Roy, a fine, handsome, strapping young man,  has two horses saddled and ready for a morning ride.  He smiles and winks at her.  "Hi Grandma.  Thought you might want to ride Beau today.  I've got he and Harvey all ready... and you know that  #7 has to tag along!"  He offers to help her mount but she raises her eyebrow and gives him "that look".  Nope.  No help needed thank you very much! The smell of the leather reminds her of Grumpa cleaning the saddles and as she mounts the saddle creaks sharp and clear.  They ride, they talk of love and of people oh so dear to both of them.  Hours pass.  They ride on and that silly 'ol burro, (#7) just plods along behind them.  They laugh and joke, they smile and remember.  It's getting close to noon now so Roy takes her along the creek, to the swimming hole, so the horses can drink.  A rustle in the Oak brush catches their attention and low and behold, a pack of dogs emerge!  Pal, Herman, Tuffy, Ranger, Shep, and even that mangy 'ol dog Blue have found them. The dogs jump and yap as she dismounts, then cover her with kisses.  Warm puppy breath greets her.  Her soul is warm, her heart is satisfied.

"Come on Grandma. We've got to get 'er done here.  The pups will be along, don't you worry now" he says with a smile.  Back into the meadow, along a mountain lake, over a rise and they see it. Why it's a party!  No, it's a picnic.  Well, who on earth sets up a picnic here?  Her Mom and Dad, her brother, her Grandpa Blakely, her aunts and uncles.  It's amazing! Everyone is here!  They eat, they laugh, they relax in the warm afternoon sun.  It's not too hot.  Just enough to warm your bones and not so much as to make you sweat.  Hmmmm.  Just right. The day has been perfect.  As sunset approaches her Mom takes her by the hand and they climb a ridge. It is the perfect Arizona sunset.  Colors only God could paint.  No one speaks.  No one wants to interrupt the sacred beauty of the moment.

A flash.  A glow.  A feeling of perfect love surrounds her.  She knows the fullness of God's presence has come.  Her soul is warm, it is as if she is being enveloped in a gigantic hug. "Well done, good and faithful one.  Welcome!  Here there is only perfect love and joy.  Come on, let us show you around.  I think you're going to like  it here."  God winks and smiles.



This is how I picture my Mom's graduation to glory this past Sunday night. I kinda think God's okay with my creative license....
K