We don’t see as many smiling faces these days due to the Covid masks, but we can still see “smiling eyes.”

Her smile would often turn to laughter as well.  She had a wonderful sense of humor.  On one occasion when I was visiting with her, I asked her about some of the early members of the Fairview church of Christ, many of whom are now deceased.  Bonnie and Edward Crabtree were some of the first members of the congregation.  Ms. Bonnie told me about some of families that comprised the Fairview church.  Then she stopped and with a big smile on her face said to me, “You must think I’m old because you keep asking me about a lot of dead people!”  We laughed together.  That became a running joke with her.  I would call and say, “In our next visit, I want to ask you some questions about Abraham Lincoln (or some other historical figure).”   She would laugh and her laugh would bring a big smile to my face.  Just thinking of Ms. Bonnie makes me smile.

About a month ago, Ms. Bonnie’s daughter Lynda was sitting by her side.  Ms. Bonnie was hurting in her chest and she thought that her time of departure was near.  Lynda tried to console her by telling her that she didn’t want her to go, but that it would hurt her much more to see her suffer.  Lynda told her mother that she knew she was looking forward to seeing her loved ones again, like her Mother, her Daddy, and her beloved Edward.  Ms. Bonnie replied that she was looking forward to seeing them again, but the one that wanted to see the most was the Lord Jesus.

Ms. Bonnie’s words reminded me of some lyrics in a song entitled “When All My Labors and Trials are O’er” by Charles Gabriel:

“When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will thro’ the ages be glory for me.

It isn’t difficult for me to imagine on that glorious day when Jesus returns, to see Ms. Bonnie rise from her grave and when she sees Jesus, her beautiful smile will light up her smiling eyes.

That is the hope of a Christian.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

We are born again to a living hope when we place our faith and trust in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  God will continue to cleanse us from sin as we continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9), until the Day when Jesus returns to take God’s children to their eternal home.

Yes, sweet Bonnie, when by His grace to look on His face, that will be glory, and it will be… sweet indeed.

-- David A. Sargent

P.S.  In loving memory of sweet Bonnie Allsup Crabtree, August 5, 1927 - November 25, 2020.  Until we meet again.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org