Never forget in the light what you learned in the darkness. I heard those words from my friend, who relocated to heaven a few days ago.   Aggressive rheumatoid arthritis, extreme pain, and other neurological complications suddenly shut systems down. And off she flew to her new Forever Home. A few days before we enjoyed swapping stories together, not realizing it was our last exchange.   Her voice bouncing with joy she dreamed out loud, “Won’t it be wonderful to be pain free!” Karen didn’t relish talking about her personal pain.  There were far more important things on which to focus. You’d never know she lived in the haunting shadow of her parents and sister ending their own lives.  You’d think she would have carried a chip the size of a watermelon on her shoulder after her two husbands ran off with younger women.  But no, my friend refused to invest in negatives.  She chose instead to embrace the joy of the NOW and  possibilities of the future.  She frequently reminded herself and those she loved . . . “Suit up and show up, regardless how you feel.” “Hardships don’t defeat us, they  shape us.” “God has a purpose even when things feel impossible.” “Look for the good in every situation. It’s there whether you see it yet or not. . .” Who and what you are becoming  will stay with you forever.” Forever.  .  . Karen was mindful of the Forever that is just around the corner for all of us. An eternal perspective infused hope into her darkest years of pain and suffering. The book of Revelation could be called the book about Forever,  because in it we find a picture of our eternal home.  The apostle John’s description of the future steals your breath. He says: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or crying, or mourning or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!’ ” John is old when he writes these words.  His body is weary, and frail. Tears spill easily as he captures the vision with pen and ink on paper in his musty jail cell.   The wise sage says that when we get to our forever home, God himself will wipe away our tears. I happen to know my friend wiped away many tears during her 72 year pilgrimage.  Her own tears. Her children’s tears. Her grandchildren’s tears, and the tears of many others who encountered tragic loss on their journey.  Her fondest memories were caring for patients and families as a social worker. Now it’s her turn to receive the love and comfort she gave away.  The same hands that curled in agony as nails pressed His flesh into a wooden cross, cupped Karen’s face a few days ago, and brushed away her tears.  There are no more reasons for her to cry. I’m terrible at saying goodbye. The deeper we love, the deeper we grieve. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was kiss my 16 year old son, Nathan,  goodbye when he left us for heaven.  The good new is, once we arrive at our Forever Home,  good byes won’t exist.. Now that is toe-tapping music for you and for me. We’re all a little bit closer to our Forever home than we probably think.  Before we know it, our appointed time will come. Do you ever wonder what it will  be like to finish everything you were destined for in this world ?  I do. I wonder what it will feel like to shed the confines of my earthly aging tent.  What will I see? Whose voices will I hear?  I can imagine Nathan zooming  through one of heaven’s portals, hopping on my back, and laughing with me all the way up.  He loved playing piggy back.. Then maybe . . .  just maybe, Jesus, who would rather die than live without us, will reach his nail scarred hands out of his heavenly robe and dry away my tears. Are you looking forward to your forever home? I hope so.  But more than anyone else, Jesus hopes so. He’s been preparing a huge celebration for your arrival ever since time began.  It’s by invitation only. Have you RSVP’d?