Karen’s Story… over the rainbow
After a long decline of 12 years, Karen’s husband of 51 years had succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. His passing coincided with Holy Week, an already emotional time for Christians, as they remember the suffering of Jesus and his dying for our sins.
As she was going to bed on Good Friday evening, feeling lost and alone, and after many tearful conversations with God, she fell asleep. Later, feeling a presence beside her bed, she awoke to see a cloud of smoke at the ceiling and a bright red line coming down from it. The line came to rest on an antique lectern made of brass that was situated on a shelf beneath the beam.
Karen could only stare in awe as the line began to fade. All alone, she got out of bed, checked through the house, and assured herself that she was indeed by herself. Later, she recalled that the Word had previously rested on that lectern for many years. She wondered if the highlighted lectern had been a sign of comfort and reassurance for the days ahead.
A memorial service was held the next week. After the service, Karen felt a need to get away by herself, so she decided to go to their place at the beach. Alone on her deck, looking at the water, she also saw a single white cloud in a clear blue sky…and within that cloud was a rainbow. To Karen, this was a sign that her husband was with God and God was taking care of him.