My dear father-in-law died about two weeks ago.  During the last week of his life, the lyrics of the song “Seeds,” from the Broadway musical A Year with Frog and Toad kept running through my head (see below).

The Apostle Paul tells us, “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.  And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.  What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.”                                          1 Corinthians 15:36b-37 & 42b  (The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version)

Gardening was one of my father-in-law’s favorite hobbies, so the image is especially appropriate.  Just as he nurtured many plants to flourish, he is now free to flourish in heaven.

The night after he died, my husband and I were captivated by the most lovely, serene sunset.  This was not a showy display of hot yellows, oranges and reds, but a soft, radiantly pink, cumulus cloud-filled sky.  I imagined heaven holding a party for my father-in-law’s arrival, and allowing us a glimpse of that joy.

“Seeds”

Don’t be afraid                                                                                                                                   Go on and grow                                                                                                                               Are you afraid                                                                                                                                   Or are you slow?

I am your gardener                                                                                                                       You are my seeds                                                                                                                                I will attend                                                                                                                                          To all of your needs

Excerpt from “Seeds,” from A Year with Frog and Toad                                                   Music by Robert Reale     Book & Lyrics by Willie Reale                                                          © 2002 and © 2004  Frog and Toad Company, LLC.