We lost a great Evangelist this week or shall I say that heaven just welcomed a new resident? Yes, the formidable Billy Graham recently changed residences and gained a new address. He wrote, “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”
We know that he could not live forever but after 99 years on this earth, it is still so hard to say goodbye. He said, “No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock and it still hurts very deeply.”
We often think that people will always be around or somewhere in the backdrop, but when they are truly gone, we start to remember. We recall what impact they had on our lives, what we learned and what we gained from their mere existences.
Upon hearing of his passing, I begin to scroll through some of his famous quotes. It was somehow comforting and I felt closer to him as I read his thoughts. Many of them touched me but this one held special meaning because it related to where I am on my current journey.
He said, “Mountaintops are for views, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” I inaudibly said, “Wow, how perfect!” I recounted my own valley experiences but after writing my gratitude pages, I realized that I am making progress. Fruit is still ripening in the midst of my limited heightened views.
I can see that even when I felt as if time was standing still, I was still planting seeds, tilling the soil and seeing new growth bursting forth. I gave a resounding thanks and thanked Billy Graham for helping me to see the fruits of my labor.
So, I say,” Enjoy your new address Mr. Graham. I know that once Gabriel blew his trumpet and the gates of heaven opened , there was a warm reception party singing, “Well-done my good and faithful servant!”
Lynn M. February 25, 2018
Lynn M's Reflections 
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