Sweet By and By

It was 11:30 Friday evening.

An old man breathes out, and for a moment doesn't breathe in again. But then all of a sudden he sucks in the most pure, clean air he's ever breathed in his life! He opens his eyes to find himself standing on the shore of the most beautiful ocean he's ever seen. The waves are crashing in front of him. And around him is the most overwhelming sound of singing, the tune is familiar. It's not coming from behind him or beside him or in front of him, but rather seems to surround him. As he turns and looks behind him he sees several figures coming toward him. The first is a woman. A beautiful, radiant woman, whose smile and laughter sends chills straight down to his toes!

"Betty!" he exclaims, as she draws near and recognition hits him.
She leaps into his arms and embraces him for a long time. "You're finally here!" she whispers into his ear. He passionately kisses her, and smiles the same smile he gave her after the minister pronounced them husband and wife all those years ago. Finally, she looks into his eyes, and says, "There are many people who want to see you." As he looks up he sees what seems to be hundreds of people surrounding them. The first to walk up is a little girl. "I want you to meet Rosalee." Betty says, grinning from ear to ear! "Hi, Daddy." she says. Emotion overwhelms him as he scoops her into his arms and holds her for a long time. "Hi baby!" Next to come forward is a middle-aged woman. "Welcome home, Dad." she says. "Gloria! You look beautiful!" he exclaims. Two little boys come running around them, obviously in the middle of a game of chase. Betty draws them to her, and says, "I'd like you to meet Christopher and Jonathan." He smiles broadly, "Nice to meet you!" Both boys smile and say hello, give a big hug and begin running again. Everyone chuckles. He begins walking through the crowd gathered, sharing hugs and joyful smiles. Then, Betty leads him to a group of men and women with dark brown skin, and they begin speaking in a foreign tongue together - even though everyone understands what is being said. The reunion lasts for what feels like days as he remembers them, but must be only minutes.

And then he sees Him. Standing just down the shoreline, walking toward the crowd. He becomes overwhelmed and isn't sure how to react at first. Betty leans over and whispers in his ear, "Run, Tom, run! Run to Him!" And so he does. He flies toward him, as if there were wings on his feet. And he falls into the Man's arms, full of emotion! "Welcome home, child, welcome home! Well done, good and faithful servant, your service is complete, your hard work is done, now come and dine with Me in My house - we will feast at your homecoming!" Then he saw the crowd had gathered around him again...and he recognized the words they were singing, so beautifully, as they began walking together....

In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore

There's a land that is fairer than day
And by faith we can see it afar
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there

In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest

In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore

To our bountiful Father above
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of his love
And the blessings that hollow our days

In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We will meet on that beautiful shore.

My grandfather, Charles Thomas Young, Sr., went to heaven Friday night. I know that when he got there that he was greeted by my grandmother (Betty), aunts (Gloria-my uncle's first wife, and Rosalee-their stillborn daughter), nephews (Christopher and Jonathan), and countless others that preceded him there - including the Xingu Indians he and Grandma took the Gospel to in the jungles of Brazil.

The song, In the Sweet By and By, is significant because it was what my Grandma sang to those Indians while standing on the shore of the Xingu River as they were preparing to leave Brazil and return to the States. She didn't know if they would ever get to return to them again (as traveling to the interior of Brazil was hard even before they began fighting the trials of old age), but she was confident that they would see each other again one day - standing on the shores of Heaven, if not on earth. I sang it at her funeral, and my Dad sang it to my grandpa as he breathed for the last time on earth, before sucking in the wonderful air of Heaven!

At 98 years old, my grandpa lived an incredibly full life. But most importantly he left a legacy - of faith, of service, of missions, of trusting in God despite hardships and earthly poverty. He and my grandma challenged and inspired many people through their ministry. But most importantly they challenged and inspired me - to wholeheartedly follow hard after Christ, no matter where He takes me, or what I endure because of it. I miss them, but am excited also, that I will be able to meet them again one day, on that beautiful shore!