Olympia arrived two days after the wedding. Salt and Birdie were the first to spot her; the newlyweds had been walking hand-in-hand on the beach when Salt spied the box washed up on the southwestern shore, in near-perfect condition.
They hurried the news to Frenchman’s Fairest, whose occupants spilled out at once to set things right. While Annie blustered in confusion, Lionel Smith arranged to have the casket brought safely ashore. With Captain Stroble back on the job, Dr. Marc sent for a backhoe, and within twenty-four hours, Olympia’s mortal shell rested beside Edmund’s in the Heavenly Daze cemetery.
At our angel meeting the next Sunday night, Lionel told me that Annie struggled to make sense of the odd situation. Why had God allowed Olympia to take that bizarre journey when it would have been so much simpler to bury her properly the first time?
Lionel answered her with heaven-sent wisdom: Who are we to question the mind of the Almighty? For through the ordeal of Olympia’s mishap, Annie learned lessons in faith and patience . . . and from the portals of heaven, Olympia had learned about eternal priorities. We do not stop learning at the threshold of heaven, after all.
Annie was right—the one constant in Heavenly Daze is change. We have said farewells to several people over the last few months, but we’ve also made new friends. And those from whom we’ve parted are not truly gone—most of them are watching from the balconies of heaven, cheering as we run the course and endure till the end.
Those of us who remain live and learn and grow more like the Savior. Through love, we experience joy and sorrow. We weep when our hearts grow too full for words and we celebrate with those who rejoice. We bid reluctant farewells, entrusting much-loved souls to the Father’s care, and we extend our hands to new members of the family.
And with every rising sun, we know that the Father is faithful. As the Master said, “If God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? . . . Don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink. Don’t worry whether God will provide it for you. . . . He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
My angelic brothers and I have been given the task of making Heavenly Daze our concern . . . but others of our angelic brotherhood have been charged to watch over you. Tread carefully, with eyes and ears tuned for the eternal, because the rustle you hear on the wind may be the sound of your immortal guardians winging their way to the Lord of all.
It is my prayer—mine, and all my brethren’s—that you would richly dwell in the wondrous grace of Christ Jesus and look forward to the real joys of heaven.
Until we meet again, in this world or the next, I wish you restful nights and heavenly days.
—Gavriel