Our granddaughter, Alexandra Nicole entered and left this world on July 6, seven years ago. As I draw ever near to my own 60th anniversary of birth - I am drawn to the question of meeting the granddaughter I met so briefly years ago in the eternal realm. The question I am about to pose, I don't ask from the perspective of belief or doctrine; but rather from the perspective of personal hope and anticipation: that is, How shall I recognize Alexandra? Will I meet a baby? Has she grown and matured in the care of the Eternal One? In Mitch Albom's book, "The Five people You Meet in Heaven" the wife of the main character, Eddie, who died from cancer several years before Eddie's death appears to Eddie as the young girl he met & married. But as they dance, Eddie asks her to reveal herself as the middle-aged woman nearing her own death. And then there is the story of a patient who once told me of a near death experience in which at the end of the tunnel of light he meets a teenaged girl, whom he doesn't recognize but feels a strong connection. She invites the man to look deeply into her eyes. He excalims, "You remind me of my wife, but you have my chin and jaw." She said, "do you remember the baby of yours and mam's who died as an infant 18 years ago, the baby you named Annie? I am she."
Many questions, many mysteries, no real answers. But what are your hopes? I think mine are to meet a young woman, with whom I can share stories, share memories I have of her mother as a young child, and learn from her about living in the very presence of God.
