“My mother died when I was ten, so you can imagine my surprise when I came home from school one day to find her sitting on the couch, knitting. And the only thing that seemed strange at the time was that she never used to knit when she was alive…”

This is how one of my favorite childhood dreams began. I dreamed that my mother came down from heaven and waited for me to come home from school so that we could spend the day together. To celebrate our reunion, she took me to heaven to visit her new home, taught me how to fly and how to breathe underwater, introduced me to some angels, and then brought me back home in time for supper. Over twenty years later, and I still remember that sweet, precious dream.

In 2006, Mitch Albom (author of Tuesdays with Morrie) released a book called One More Day. It’s the story about a mother and a son and explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one? Since then, the book has sold over 11 million copies and was even adapted into a made-for-TV movie by Oprah.

If you’ve ever lost a loved one, I don’t have to explain to you why the book did so well. Or why my dream about my mom meant so much. We have a deep longing to be reunited with those who have passed on. It is a desire so deep, we cannot escape it. So strong, we cannot ignore it. But so personal, we cannot express it. It is a desire of our minds, our hearts, and our souls all at once.

The desire for a reunion.

As Jesus prepared to go to the Cross, He addressed this desire and gave His disciples one of the most valuable promises of all time.  The promise of a reunion!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus knew his disciples would miss Him. He knew that the time between His resurrection and His ascension wouldn’t be enough. They’d still miss Him and they’d still fantasize about having just one more day with Him.

So during their last meal together, in the Upper Room, He left them with the promise of a reunion.

A fabulous reunion!

A reunion that we’re invited to as well!

This promise of a reunion is one that grows stronger every time we’re bombarded with the darkness of this world and we wish that we could just climb up into Jesus’ lap and let Him make it all better. That day is coming.

It’s a promise that grows sweeter every time you attend a funeral and wish for just one more day, one more conversation, or one more kiss. That day is coming.

And it’s a promise that grows more and more personal every time you look at old photos. Every time you mark another anniversary. Every time you notice that another year has gone by and the desire hasn’t gone away. Every time you realize that time doesn’t make it easier, it just makes you anticipate heaven that much more. That day is coming!

Praise God! Hallelujah! Thank the dear, sweet Lord!

That day is coming!

And I, for one, cannot stinkin’ wait!!

If you could spend just one more day with someone, who would it be, and what would you say or do?