Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

Another Easter

8:28 AM

As for Norma, her attention to detail served her well, and soon Cortwright Realty became Cortwright-Warren Realty and she was very happy about that. But as far as the other part of her life, sadly she never did receive a sign, a wonder, or a miracle, and she had pretty much given up even looking for one, until another Easter four years later.

Norma was out at the cemetery leaving the lilies on her parents’ graves like she always did, trying not to let the plastic flowers that were now on almost every grave make her insane. But as she was leaving, she happened to walk by the old Smith plot on the south side of the cemetery where Neighbor Dorothy was buried, and for some unknown reason she stopped and read the two names on the large tombstone in the middle and was stunned when she saw what was written.

DOROTHY ANNE SMITH

Beloved Mother

1894–1976

ROBERT RAYMOND SMITH

Beloved Father

1892–1977

Norma’s mouth flew open. Raymond? She never knew Neighbor Dorothy’s husband was named Raymond! Suddenly that tiny little flicker of hope that had almost burned out started up again, and she smiled and stood there looking up at the blue sky. And it was such a pretty day too.

The following Sunday, also for some unknown reason, Macky got up and said to Norma, “I think I’ll go to church with you today and see what it’s all about.” Norma didn’t know what had brought this on, but she was so glad he picked that day to go, because the text of Susie’s sermon that Sunday was:

There Lives More Faith in Honest Doubt, Believe Me, Than Half the Creeds.

—ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

And everyone said it was the best one she had ever given.