Finally Home
(Playing ~ "Total Eclipse of the Heart")
Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived
in the womb. Seconds, minutes, hours passed as the
two
embryonic lives developed. The spark of life grew, and each tiny
brain began to
take shape and form. With the development of their brain came
feeling, and with
feeling, perception ~ a perception of surroundings, of each other,
and of their own lives.
They discovered that life was good, and they laughed and rejoiced
in their hearts.
One said to the other, "We are sure
lucky to have been conceived and to have
this wonderful world."
The other chimed in, "Yes, blessed be
our mother who gave us life
and each other."
Each of the twins continued to grow, and
soon their arms and fingers, legs and toes began
to take shape. They stretched their bodies and churned and turned
in their little world.
They explored it and found the life cord which gave them life
from their mother's blood.
They were grateful for this new discovery and sang, "How
great is the love of
our mother ~ that she shares all she has with us !"
Weeks passed into months, and with the
advent of each new month, they noticed a change
in each other and in themselves.
"We are changing," one said. "What can it mean?"
"It means," said the other, "that we are drawing near to birth."
An unsettling chill crept over the two. They
were afraid of birth, for they knew
that it meant leaving their wonderful world behind.
Said the one, "Were it up to me, I would live here forever."
"But we must be born," said the
other. "It has happened to all the others." Indeed,
there was evidence inside the womb that the mother had carried
life before theirs.
"And I believe that there is life after birth, don't you?"
"How can there be life after birth?"
cried the one. "Do we not shed our life cord and
also the blood tissue when we are born? And have you ever talked
to anyone that has
been born? Has anyone ever re-entered the womb after birth to
describe what birth
is like? NO !" As he spoke, he fell into despair, and in his
despair he moaned,
"If the purpose of conception and our growth inside the womb
is to end in birth,
then truly our life is senseless." He clutched his precious
life cord to his breast
and said, "And if this is so, and life is absurd, then there
really can be no mother!"
"But there is a mother," protested
the other.
"Who else gave us nourishment?
Who else created this world for us?"
"We get our nourishment from this cord
~ and our world has always been here!"
said the one. "And if there is a mother ~ who is she? Have
you ever seen her?
Does she ever talk to you? NO! We invented the mother when we
were young
because it satisfied a need in us. It made us feel secure and
happy."
Thus, while the one raved and despaired, the
other resigned himself to birth
and placed his trust in the hands of his mother. Hours turned
into days and
days into weeks. And soon it was time. They both knew their birth
was at hand,
and they both feared what they did not know. As the one was first
to
be conceived, so he was the first to be born; the other following.
They cried as they were born into the light.
They coughed out fluid and gasped
the dry air. And when they were sure they had been born, they
opened their eyes ~
seeing life after birth for the very first time.
What they saw was the beautiful eyes of
their mother,
as they were cradled lovingly in her arms.
They
Were
Home!!
~~~
This story, which I feel also beautifully
illustrates death for the Christian ~ passing from life on this earth
where we are "strangers in a foreign land" to eternal
life with God ~ was read at the funeral of
my husband's cousin. I asked the minister, Mike Gillock of
Ashland City, Tennessee, for a copy.
The author is unknown, but he found the story in a book of
illustrations for youth entitled
More
Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks.
~~~
Heaven
Think of .......
Stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God's hand.
Of breathing a new air, and finding it celestial air.
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality.
Of passing from storm to tempest to an unbroken calm.
Of waking up, and finding it Home!!
~ author unknown
~~~
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