2 Empty Chairs

“Your dad was a genius.” I yelled out to my husband who was in the other room. I was looking at 2 empty chairs. My mother-in-law and Father-in-law sat often in those chairs while doing their morning devotions. Next to the chair on the right were 3 bibles along with a concordance. When I looked at the view from the 2 chairs, I was overwhelmed by the beauty. While sitting in the chairs, if you look to the left, you will see a beautiful lake my father-in-law envisioned. He had it dug when they moved to the property 45 years ago. The lake filled up and sat surrounded by tall field grass for many years. When you look at the lake now, you see years of an inspired vision of beauty provided by God given to my Father-in-law.  The view to the right is my favorite view of the property. My father-in-law decided to “clean out the ditch.”  If you look now at the “cleaned-out ditch”, you’ll see a beautiful small pond with a waterfall. It’s stunning.

The view from the window where the 2 chairs sit is extraordinary. I never really noticed it before.  However, the most important thing about those 2 chairs… way more important than the view, or anything about the beautiful property… are the 3 bibles that still sit by the chairs. The Bibles represent their relationship with the one who supplied the home, the businesses, the long-lasting marriage. The bibles represent prayers for kids and grand-kids, spiritual maturity, love for God and family. The bibles represent a willingness to say yes to God’s plan for their lives. The bibles represent searching while struggling and hours praying, seeking, and serving.

Now, as I think of those 2 chairs and the beautiful view that awaits the people who sit in them, I think of the amazing view my in-laws now have in heaven. I think of the great cloud of witnesses of which they are now part.

I am thankful for the legacy they leave behind and the hope to leave a similar one someday.