Ms. Bette

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 19:14 

We began to visit Ms. Bette periodically after her husband, Mr. Don, died.  The oldest members of our church, the two of them were something of a legend.  Mr. Don lived a long and Godly life before passing away last January at the age of 88.

Ms. Bette wasn’t ever quite the same after that.  Her family moved her to assisted living, and, while she always kept a cheerful spirit, she did occasionally mention that she hoped to be able to move back home.  She also showed me a large picture of Mr. Don one day that she told me she got out when she was lonely.

Cooper loved to go see her.  She laughed at his antics, and she always had interesting things for him to look at.  He would give her big hugs which brought tears to her eyes.

The last few times I called her, she said she wasn’t up for a visit.  She just didn’t feel well.  Then her family announced that she was going into hospice care.

This past Sunday morning, Ms. Bette joined Mr. Don in heaven.  I have no doubt that the reunion there that morning was a joyful one for both of them.  And I'm sure her joy in getting to meet her Savior was greater still.

That afternoon, I told Cooper that Ms. Bette had gone to heaven.  He began asking me about heaven and about Jesus, things we had talked about before, but not in so much detail.  I hadn’t tried to lead him to accept Christ because I felt he was still a little young for that, but that day, he asked me if he would go to heaven too.  I told him he would if he asked Jesus to be his Savior.  We talked about sin and why he needed a Savior.  He showed an understanding of his sinfulness and of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.  Then I prayed with him to receive Jesus as his Savior. 

I believe he fully understands, as well as an almost-four-year-old can, what he has done.  He has since told several people that he asked Jesus into his heart.   He has talked more about heaven and seeing Ms. Bette again.  Of course, Don and I will continue to teach him about Jesus as he grows, making sure he understands it all. 

But for now, I am resting in the fact that Cooper knows Jesus and is saved for all eternity.  And I know that Ms. Bette would be thrilled to know that her death had played a role in that.