Christmas Lights

By Joy Sutton

       In November 2004 my beloved sister Joan, who had been diagnosed with liver cancer, had to have part of her liver removed in March 2005.  Following her treatments she was encouraged; her life was getting somewhat back to normal.  She and her husband Victor were even able to enjoy a camping trip in their RV to Kentucky that summer.  

        Sad to say… it was not to continue.  She became ill again in September and passed away in October.  

        It had been Joan and Victor’s custom for years to leave North Carolina and come to Florida for the holidays.  Holding on to the tradition, Victor came to Florida alone in their camper, staying a few days in Melbourne before coming to our home in Longwood.  During his stay in Melbourne, he discovered a forgotten Christmas present in the RV bought by Joan for me when they were on that summer trip to Kentucky.  He called to tell me about the find and said he would wrap it.  He also said that he wanted me to unwrap it first on Christmas Day so that we could get the crying out of the way. 

        Christmas Day started out rainy, changed to just dreary, and was later back to thunder and hard rain by the time we gathered around the Christmas  tree. Victor handed me Joan's gift first as he said he would.  Just as I started to open it, the lights blinked once.  I said, " Thank you, Joan." They came right back on, and I continued to open the gift.  It was a clear crystal angel looking heavenward with outstretched arms.  It was like the angel was delivering the message...“Lift your heart unto the Lord.” Just after my looking at the angel, the lights flickered again twice and then stayed on for the remainder for the day. 

       Those were the only times during the whole day that the lights flickered.  By the time we had finished opening all the gifts, it was a sunshiny day.  This event happening on this special day and timed so perfectly, affected me beyond words! What an awesome gift from GOD!  Jim, Victor and Vickie (Victor’s sister) were the only ones there to witness the momentous occurrence with me.   As it just so happens… we were the same four who had been the around-the-clock caregivers for Joan the month prior to her passing.  Amazing!