This story is dedicated in memory of my Aunt Carla(195?-1997), one of the "classiest" ladies I ever knew. Thanks, Carla, for your sense of fashion. Without you, I'd probably still be wearing mismatched clothes!! (As a kid, she MADE me go home and put on something that matched! I'm sure glad she did!! :) ) I miss you, Carla, but I know I will see you again someday, and it was really nice knowing you....

A friend of mine sent me this note after part two...."Because of you I have to go to work with a runny nose and swollen eyes from crying over your story!!!!!!!! Do me a favor, put warning labels on them so I can be prepared!!!!" Well, I've been forewarned...so WARNING...this may bring a tear or two to your eyes!! :)

NOW, for the actual story!! Hope you liked this one! :).....

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Danny watched his mother as she lay in the hospital bed. Her once silky red hair lay dry and in knots around her head. Her once smooth, porcelain skin was white and looked stuck to her bones. Her once sparkling green eyes looked lifeless and tired. Her lips were chapped and peeling, and from them came her labored breathing. It was only a matter of days, the doctors had told them. Danny spent almost every moment he could with her. He read her stories, talked to her, just watched, but mostly prayed. In the meantime, he had become very close with Jo Jo, even attended her church. He had finally become saved only two days ago, and he felt so peaceful about it. Jo Jo had assured him his mother was saved too, after their long conversation on the phone, and would be spending eternity in Heaven. All who was left was his father. Danny felt that would take time and prayer. He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Danny, why don’t you get something to eat and I’ll sit with your mother?” Danny nodded, squeezed his mother’s hand and stood up. He turned to his father and gave him a tight hug. Michael wrapped his arms around his son, “I love you, Danny.”

“Me too, dad.” Danny replied.

Michael pulled away, afraid he would start crying, “Well, here’s some money...go get something to eat.”

Danny took the bills and left the room.

Michael sat in the vacant chair and lovingly studied his wife’s face. He gently reached out, brushing a ragged strand of hair off her forehead. She was still beautiful, he thought. He remembered the first day they had met. It was in college, almost twenty years ago. Michael had seen this strikingly beautiful redhead and knew he had to get to know her. He had walked up to her, and with a boldness in his voice said, “I couldn’t help but notice I was staring at you.”

She replied, “Well, I could, and I don’t like it one bit!”

With that, she stalked off, her red hair flipping back and forth. She was one of those ‘play hard to get’ types, but Michael pursued and finally won. They were married right out of college. Michael knew it had been rough on her, and hated himself for the pain he put her through. He wished he had time to make it up, but time was slowly slipping away. Tears pooled in his eyes as the thought of her no longer being with him hit him like a Mac Truck.

“Joanna, I can’t bear the thought of losing you.” There was no reply, just labored breathing.

Michael buried his face in his hands and sobbed.

*****

“Amazing Grace was always her favorite hymn. I really don’t think she knew any others. She didn’t grow up with a Christian background.” Michael told Jo Jo.

“He Touched Me.” A voice interrupted. All three heads, Jo Jo, Michael and Danny, turned around. Joanna was staring at all three. There was a sparkle in her eyes.

“Mom.” Danny called out. She had been unresponsive for the past week. All three were astonished.

She licked her dry lips, and in a raspy voice said, “I want you to sing ‘He Touched Me’ at my funeral. That’s how I feel. That’s how I’ll be. I’ll be made whole when I die. And one more...I want everyone to know there is life after death. I want everyone to leave with hope. Will you sing, ‘I’ll Fly Away’?”

“That’s one of my favorites too.” Jo Jo replied.

“Joanna, how did you hear of these songs?” Michael added.

“Oh, the angels. They sang to me. Will you? Please.” She said, her cracked lips turned up in a smile.

“If that’s what you want, Annie girl, that’s what you’ll get.” Michael said.

“Please.” She said again. “Michael? Danny? Jo Jo? I love you all. Will you sing ‘He Touched Me now...for me?”

Jo Jo’s voice filled the room. Since neither Danny nor Michael knew the words, they just listened, tears falling like raindrops as Joanna slipped away into eternity.

*****

Funeral arrangements were made soon after. Family flocked over, day and night, to help out in any way they could. Michael tried occupying himself with the busyness of making the arrangements, but thoughts of his now dead wife flooded his mind constantly. He rubbed his pounding forehead as he sat at his desk. He looked up at the picture that was on the desk. It had been taken only a year ago. Joanna was on Michael’s back, her arms wrapped around his neck, and a huge grin on her face. Michael was smiling big too. Danny stood next to them, with that, ‘Yeah, these are my parents, and I’m embarrassed right now’ look on his face. Michael slammed the picture down, “Why? Why did you have to leave me?!!” He yelled into the air, but no reply came. “Why? Why did You take her from me?” He yelled, this time, directing his anger to God. Still no reply.

*****

“He touched me, oh, He touched me...and oh, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened, and now I know...He touched me and made me whole....” a beautiful choir, from Jo Jo’s church, sang the inspirational hymn. It filled the room as people sat in their chairs, some sobbing, some praising God, some questioning. As the voices died down, Jo Jo went over to a small pulpit set up in front. Joanna could be viewed to her right. Her face, although covered with make-up and lifeless, had a peacefulness to it. Everyone couldn’t help but notice it. Jo Jo began to speak, “Joanna Barret touched my life from the day she stepped foot in that office. From her mere presence, to the way she was always dressed, you knew there was something special about her.” Jo Jo noticed a few people shaking their heads. She went on, “ She soon became known in the office as one of the classiest ladies. Always well polished and poised. Her hair, make-up and clothing was just right. Her nails, filed and painted, even her jewelry went well with all she wore. But, ladies and gentlemen, while she looked clean and neat on the outside, her heart and body were going through something that wasn’t visible. She had pancreatic cancer. It’s a silent disease and not many people know they have it, until it’s too late.

“While it was too late for Joanna’s body to be made well by doctors, there was another doctor working on her heart. Someone concerned more about her soul then her physical condition. That person was God.” Jo Jo saw Michael get up and head towards the back and out the door. She prayed a silent prayer and continued, “While God has the power to heal anything, He decided to take Joanna home instead, but she’s not dead, my friends. See, God sent His Son, Jesus, long ago so you and I and Joanna could live and have eternal life. All we have to do is believe in Him, accept Him as our Saviour and receive Him into our lives. Joanna realized that in her last few days. Now, she lives in a place were pain and sorrow are no more, cancer can no longer eat at her body, sickness can no longer rack her body in pain. She is alive and well and doing just fine. I do admit, I’m human, and I miss her terribly, but I know I’m going to see her again someday. You, too, can have that assurance. Joanna requested “He Touched Me”, because Jesus has now made her whole. You, too, can be made whole, right here and right now. Please think on that. Danny?”

She called the young boy up.

“I, uh, am Joanna’s son, Danny. My mom...” He swallowed the lump in his throat, “My mom was a really special person. I have some great memories with her. She, uh, like Jo Jo said, died knowing Jesus. I have also accepted Him into my heart and I know I’m gonna see my mom again someday.” Danny had to stop as the tears threatened to fall again. Jo Jo put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, “I’m gonna miss you so much mom.” He looked to the casket, then up to the ceiling, “and I can’t wait to see you again. I love you, mom.” His tears fell freely and he turned around and into Jo Jo’s arms. There was not a dry eye in the room.

A few others came up, said something about Joanna and how she had touched their life in one way or another. Some had some funny stories to share, and it lightened up the mood a bit. Michael was nowhere to be found during this time. When no one else stood up to speak, Jo Jo went up again, “We have one more request from Joanna.”

The choir broke out into “I’ll Fly Away.” Hands clapped, faces smiled, and the heavy mood seemed lifted and a calm peace flooded over everyone. No one seemed to notice Michael slipping in the back door and taking a seat. No one, except Jo Jo. Another prayer went up.

*****

Joanna was buried on a sunny, cloudless day. Michael would always remember that, as he had looked up into the blue sky and thought Joanna was up there somewhere. A week had gone by since Joanna’s passing, and Michael’s sorrow grew worse. Danny seemed preoccupied with school, friends, and now church and Jo Jo. Michael felt alone, with no one to turn to. He had no close family, except Danny. People came by daily to offer help, condolences, and food. Michael wanted them all to just go away, yet at the same time felt so lonely and depressed. Everywhere he turned, there was Joanna. In the pictures, in the bedroom, hallway, even in the curtains she had made herself. Her scent, from the closet, the bed, her clothes, even the bathroom where she sprayed her perfume, filled Michael’s nostrils and he had to sometimes step outside for fresh air. He seemed consumed with grief. He ate more, and began to put on some weight. Days went by, and Michael isolated himself to his house. People from work wondered if he would ever come back. Michael couldn’t bear the thought. Then again, perhaps work wouldn’t be so bad. Joanna’s not there.

*****

“Hey, welcome back!” One of his co-workers said as Michael walked in the door. Michael regretted his decision already. He hated cheery people, but as the day wore on, Michael was glad for the change. At the end of the day, a friend offered to buy him a drink. All it took was one, and Michael was hooked. Danny came home from school one day and found his father passed out drunk on the floor. Hairball was licking Michael’s face, then spotted Danny and began meowing. It was the first time Danny had ever seen this side of his father and it scared him a lot. He picked up Hairball, petting his head, something that seemed to calm him down, and called Jo Jo immediately.

*****

Jo Jo arrived almost right away. She surveyed the scene and sent up a prayer. Seemed she was praying quite a lot for Michael lately. She went over to pick him up off the floor. A beer bottle fell from his hand, and she heard him moan. She went to gently lift him onto the couch, and as she did, he threw up all over.

“Oh, come on...that’s nasty!” Danny said, covering his mouth. He had to leave the room, or he would have done the same.

Jo Jo went right on cleaning it up, including Michael. When she was finished, she managed to carry the drunken man up to bed. She changed him and put him under the covers where he fell fast asleep, then went to check on Danny.

Danny was sitting at his desk in his room. Trying hard to concentrate on his schoolwork, he was having no success. He turned when he heard someone come in the room.

“Thanks for coming, Jo Jo. I didn’t know who else to call.”

“Oh, no problem. Danny, I’d like to pray together, if you don’t mind.”

“Mind? No way! I think that would be cool!”

Jo Jo chuckled. Danny was growing spiritually, but he was still a teenager, she reminded herself. They spent a few moments in prayer and both felt better.

Two days later, Michael got up enough nerve to apologize to his son for having to see him like that. He promised Danny he would never have to see it again. While Michael kept to his promise in the weeks to come, Danny couldn’t help but wonder what kind of battle raged within his father. While fairly pleasant and cordial when asked a question, Michael mostly kept to himself and stayed quiet. One day, it was Michael’s turn to ask a question. They were sitting having dinner at a restaurant, when the question suddenly came up, “So, this God of yours, He really loves you, huh?”

Danny’s fork never got to his mouth. He slowly put it back on his plate and stared at his father. Jo Jo had told him to pray for wisdom if the subject ever came up. That’s what he did just then.

“Well, yeah, dad. He sure does. He loves you too, not just me.”

“Aw, come on. God could never love someone like me.” He grabbed his fork and started to play around with the food in his plate, his eyes downcast.

“But He does dad. Very much, really.” Danny went on to explain a lot of things to his father. Words of wisdom seemed to flow from his mouth. Even he was surprised to hear what he was saying.

“So, how come you know so much? You’re only fourteen.”

“Cause of Jesus who lives in me. He gives me the wisdom to know what to say.”

“I gotta admit, Danny, I’m impressed. You seem a lot different, but good different. What would you say if I came with you to church one day?”

“I’d say that was the greatest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Michael just smiled, “Thanks, Danny.” And continued eating.

Danny just prayed, and thanked God for this small glimmer of hope. He knew it would take time and a lot of prayer, but his dad was close. God was going to do something yet, he just had to trust...and wait. He was finding waiting was the hardest part of God’s plan, but he also knew something wonderful would happen in the end, and he liked that part.

The following is a poem I wrote to go along with this story, but couldn't quite find a place to fit it into the actual story, so I think I'll just leave it on it's own. Hope you are blessed. Hear this put to music by my friend Anita Rundell by clicking on the title. Hear her other music at: http://www.mp3.com/anitarundell and http://www.mp3.com/surrendered.

Knowing You

I cried the day you left me,
but I know that you're okay.
For now you live in Heaven,

and I'll see you there someday.

The stories that we shared,
the laughter and the tears,
are now part of my memory,
now that you're not here.

Chorus:
Knowing you, has made my life complete
Knowing you, and what you meant to me.
Memories of yesterday, go to only prove.
Blessings come in many ways, one was knowing you.

The sound of your laughter,
echoes down mem’ry’s hall.
I can almost hear your gentle voice,
just beyond the wall.

I see your face in pictures,
your soul I see in your eyes.
But I must let go, let God take control,
So, for now I say goodbye.