Heavenly Father – In a dream just before sunrise on Friday, February 16, a beautiful blond girl in a white dress of linen and lace visited me in my sleep. I thought it was just a dream. But, as I was dressing for work the telephone rang. The call was from my cousin, Margaret. I learned that her mother, my Aunt Midge, Margaret Hiebeler, had died 10 minutes earlier. I knew then that You, my Savior, had sent the girl in Easter white to send me a message of redemption that Aunt Midge had made her way back Home to You.
Last Tuesday, I shared the message I received from You at Aunt Midge’s services at First Presbyterian Church in Bryan, Texas. Later that afternoon at Forest Park Westheimer, Reverend Foote commended her spirit to You. Her body, which You had ensouled with the Holy Spirit, was buried. In prayer we thanked You for the blessings we all had received from her life, love and unbounded service to You.
From the photograph of Aunt Midge, You can see she was a stunning brunette. Yet, as a little girl in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, she was adorned by light-filled flowing blond hair. Sadly, her earthly life was taken from her and us as a result of the Long Goodbye, the disease of Alzheimer’s. Although her body now lies in a grave at Forest Park Cemetery, Aunt Midge’s life and love made possible many sacred memories for others including me.
During the graveside services, I recalled a special moment Aunt Midge made possible. It took place at the 2003 wedding of her granddaughter, Laura. Aunt Midge hosted the wedding in Bryan, Texas at her home amidst the green lawn and blooming flower gardens in her back yard. The image You see in the photograph is of my daughter, Catherine, her husband, Reniel, and their infant son, Tristan, my first grandchild. Were they not a beautiful family so full of love, hope, and happiness? Reniel had just been promoted to assistant manager at the Interstate Battery Store on Interstate 10.
Sadly, just a few weeks later, three masked gunmen exited an SUV. Brandishing weapons and evil they shot him at 9:30 pm as he stood by his car on 18th Street in the Heights in Houston. The gunmen took something far more valuable than the $2 in Reniel’s wallet and the shark tooth he wore around his neck for good luck. They stole a father from a son and a husband from a wife.
The killers were never brought to justice. But, that wrongdoing and Midge’s death do not dampen the precious memory of that magical wedding time together which Your love and Aunt Midge made possible.
I give thanks to You for sending me that blond-haired angel in my sleeping, for Your message she delivered, for the memory that will never be forgotten, and for the photograph that will be forever treasured.
Most importantly, I thank You for sending Your angels to lead Midge and Reniel safely Home.
Please guide Your talented servants to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and to end senseless violence.
Your love is more powerful than hate.
Your love is stronger than any bullet.
May Your Grace help Americans find a way to change our society to be more of a reflection of Your love on Earth. Amen
If you like this prayer, please share.
Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.