Waiting on the Porch for Jesse
A few years ago, I received a phone call from one of the members of my church. She relayed to me that Jesse and Nell, both members of the church, had been in Shreveport for a lap-band surgery for their son, Clay. I was well aware of the surgery, as we had been praying for Clay for a few days. She went on to say that something had gone wrong during the surgery and Clay did not survive. He passed away on the operating table.
A wave of nausea washed over me. I could only imagine the devastation that Jesse and Nell must be experiencing right now. Jesse was in his late 70's at the time and I was immediately concerned about he and Nell and how this loss of a child might affect them.
The caller went on to say that they were on their way home from Shreveport at the moment and would be home in about an hour. I dropped everything, jumped into my car and drove from my home in Corrigan to their home in the Bald Hill Community of Lufkin.
There was one other person waiting on the front porch when I got there. I got out of my car, stepped up onto the front porch and dropped heavily into a rocking chair waiting on Jesse to get home.
The other church member and I talked about what had happened to Clay. A heaviness pushed down on my heart as I began to grapple with what to say to them when they pulled up at home. I knew in my heart that there were no words to say that would bring comfort to them in this great loss. All that I could do was offer them love and support and let them know that God was still with them.
After about thirty minutes, Jesse pulled up in the yard and we quickly ran down the steps to greet them. We grabbed them, hugged them and loved on them as the tears streamed down their faces. We hurt for them and with them.
Years have gone by since that day and I received another phone call from the same church member who called when Clay passed away. She relayed to me that Jesse had just gone to be with the Lord, too. A couple of days later, I walked into the funeral home for Jesse's funeral. There was Nell in front of Jesse's casket greeting friends and loved ones with a sweet smile on her face. I awaited my turn to express my condolences.
As soon as she saw me, she reached out for me. "Rick! It's so good to see you! Jesse loved you so much!" she said. My heart hurt with the words.
"I loved him, too. He was a truly great man and a role model for me," I replied.
"We'll never forget the day that you were waiting for us on the porch when Clay died," she recalled. I had forgotten about it until she mentioned it and it all came rushing back.
I sat down on the back row and awaited the funeral service to commence. As I reflected on that day years ago, another vision crowded it out in my mind. I could see Clay rocking on the front porch of his mansion in heaven, waiting for Jesse to come home. I saw Clay run down the steps to embrace his Daddy when he walked down his lane. As the father and son embraced and parted, I heard Clay tell Jesse, "Come with me, Dad. There's someone that's been waiting for you for a long time. I can't wait for you to finally meet him face to face."
Together, they walked side by side toward the throne where Jesus was waiting for Jesse.
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
