Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.—1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Nothing could have prepared me for the FaceTime call that Friday morning. My mother had just been diagnosed with an emergency, life-threatening condition. The doctor gave her twenty minutes to discuss her course of treatment with family. When Mom’s face appeared on my phone screen, I knew she’d already made her decision. She explained the risks involved in immediate surgery and the low likelihood of cure. Mom wanted to let nature take its course. Hospice was called, and immediate family members took turns sitting at Mom’s bedside day and night. We held her hand and told her we loved her and would miss her.

My pain was intense. At the same time, I felt an undeniable sense of anticipation on Mom’s behalf. She’d placed her faith in Jesus in her childhood and walked in relationship with Him her entire life. She was ready to move from earth to heaven. She longed to experience its glories, be reunited with loved ones, and meet Jesus face-to-face. It was only a matter of time until He came to take her home to be with Him forever.

Jesus granted her heart’s desire exactly one week after that phone call. I grieved but not without hope. Because Jesus conquered death, I didn’t say goodbye. I said, “See you later, Mom.”

Faith Step: Meditate on a loved one who has passed from this life into heaven. Ask Jesus to give you a glimpse of what they may be experiencing in eternity with Him.