One of the greatest honors I have in serving at church is being part of our visitation ministry. It’s a quiet but powerful part of my calling—one that has left a lasting mark on my heart through the many sacred moments I’ve shared with others. I’d like to tell you about one visit in particular that moved me more deeply than I expected.
I was invited to visit a family whose elderly mother was nearing the end of her life. From the moment I met her, she struck me as a gentle, radiant soul—someone who had lived a long, Christ-centered life and was deeply ready to meet her Savior. During our time together, I learned she had recently experienced a troubling dream. In it, she had passed away and arrived at the gates of heaven. Angels greeted her, but they wouldn’t allow her to see Jesus. She awoke shaken and called for her daughter, who lovingly reassured her that, when the time came, she would absolutely see her Lord.
Just a few days later, the elderly woman lay surrounded by family, barely holding onto life. As we waited with her, I remembered that dream—and with it, a growing sense of certainty and joy: she was going to see Jesus. The very thought filled me with anticipation.
As her breathing began to slow, I leaned in gently, placed one hand on her forehead, and spoke softly into her ear: “You’re going to be with Jesus soon. He’s waiting for you.” The room grew still—heavy with a sacred quiet—as if we were standing on the very edge of eternity.
It was the first time I had ever been present for someone’s transition from this life into the next. And in that sacred moment, I felt a desperate longing—not just for her peace, but for a glimpse of the glory she was stepping into. I remember thinking, “If God’s mercy is pouring over her like a rushing river, maybe, just maybe, if I’m close enough, I can catch a drop of it too.” But when she passed, all that remained was her earthly shell—and I felt deeply disappointed.
I turned to her daughter and said, “I just want to get as close to her as I can. I want to experience what she’s experiencing.” She looked at me gently and replied, “It’s not for us. It’s just not for us.”
Many of us know what it’s like to say goodbye to someone we love. Some of you may be preparing for that goodbye even now. It’s not easy to live with only memories. But this dear woman taught me something beautiful: there is a holy brilliance that awaits those who leave this life in faith. Her dream may have been unsettling, but the truth is reassuring—God calls to us every day, inviting us to draw closer. His desire to meet us face to face is as boundless as His love for us.
And when our time comes, we can trust that He won’t just send angels. He’ll come Himself to greet us at the gates. And oh, what joy He must feel when one of His children finally comes home.
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