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“and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

“There’s a fire, and it is heading in our direction.”

Those were the words I heard recently, from my son. “You need to put together a TO GO bag and be ready.”

We were just four days away from the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Texas wildfires when we lost our home and everything we had collected over the 40 years we had been married.

Oh, how God had walked with us through those terrible days.

Could I do that again?

Please, Lord, please, I don’t think I can.

Memories of standing with Steve at our local superstore with an empty basket came flooding back.

Returning to our once beautiful home and walking through the ash, searching for anything that might have survived the fire—and finding nothing.

How did I live through that?

Though I know exactly how we did —in God’s strength — my first thought was that Steve took the burden of that loss on his shoulders and protected me from its full force.

“Everything is going to be okay, Kathy.”

I tried, I really did try to start collecting things to take – to try to save- but now, I just stood paralyzed in the middle of our bedroom.

More than anything at that moment, I needed to hear Steve tell me again, “Everything is going to be okay.”

I wish I had a recording of the many things Steve told me over my lifetime with him.

“Watch out for snakes, Kathy. You’d better be watching out for snakes!”

“You are making a big deal out of this, Kathy. Everything will be fine.”

And, of course…

“I love you, Kathy.”

If you could have recorded something your husband told you and needed to hear today—what would it be?

Even though I knew that Steve had no idea IF everything would ACTUALLY be okay, I trusted him.

I rested in his wonderful, protective covering over me, and I settled down – every single time.

If that message had been recorded, I wonder just how many times I would have hit ‘REPEAT’ over these last ten years.

What if we could have something even better than a recording of our husband’s voice?

Do you remember the old crime shows we watched when the ‘suspect’ was given one phone call? Maybe that villain had to think about that for a while—just who he might call to help him out of his predicament.

As widows, I believe you and I would not hesitate a second if we were granted one phone call to Heaven.

If I could have my ‘one more phone call’ to Heaven, I think Steve would remind me…

“KATHY, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY!”

“You can’t even imagine what Heaven is like!”

“What we read about in His word, what we heard in the many messages about Heaven…

IT IS ALL TRUE, KATHY!”

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

I imagine he would remind me of Revelation 21:4 (NIV)…

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

What do we do when we cannot see the beauty in the ashes of today?

Isaiah’s picture of God bringing beauty from ashes does not mean that the ashes weren’t real or painful. It means God meets His people in their mourning and gives them hope, His presence, and ultimately restoration.

We trust in a faithful, promise-keeping Father.

Who do we listen for when it isn’t possible to hear our husband’s voice right now?

God speaks to us through His Word, steady and true. In our deep need, He meets us.

Sometimes I swear I still hear Steve’s voice.

As I head out through the garage to get on that beloved tractor or lawnmower, I hear him say…

“You’d better be watching out for snakes, Kathy!”

Yes, I will see Steve again one day. Until then, I will remember that voice and listen to the One I can clearly hear now guiding me Home.

Our Heavenly Father, thank You that we can hear Your voice through Your Holy Word. In the circumstances of this life, when we need reassurance, comfort, and peace, please remind us that You are always with us and directing our every footstep Home. Amen