Sweet Bonnie

Sweet Bonnie

We don't see as many smiling faces these days due to the Covid masks, but we
can still see "smiling eyes."

Bonnie Crabtree had those "smiling eyes" with a beautiful smile to match.
Her smiling eyes were the kind that squinted because her smile was so big.
She smiled most of the time.

"Sweet" is a word that is often used to describe Ms. Bonnie. She was one of
the sweetest people I have ever known.

Her smile would often turn to laughter as well. She had a wonderful sense
of humor. On one occasion when I was visiting with her, I asked her about
some of the early members of the Fairview church of Christ, many of whom are
now deceased. Bonnie and Edward Crabtree were some of the first members of
the congregation. Ms. Bonnie told me about some of families that comprised
the Fairview church. Then she stopped and with a big smile on her face said
to me, "You must think I'm old because you keep asking me about a lot of
dead people!" We laughed together. That became a running joke with her. I
would call and say, "In our next visit, I want to ask you some questions
about Abraham Lincoln (or some other historical figure)." She would laugh
and her laugh would bring a big smile to my face. Just thinking of Ms.
Bonnie makes me smile.

About a month ago, Ms. Bonnie's daughter Lynda was sitting by her side. Ms.
Bonnie was hurting in her chest and she thought that her time of departure
was near. Lynda tried to console her by telling her that she didn't want
her to go, but that it would hurt her much more to see her suffer. Lynda
told her mother that she knew she was looking forward to seeing her loved
ones again, like her Mother, her Daddy, and her beloved Edward. Ms. Bonnie
replied that she was looking forward to seeing them again, but the one that
wanted to see the most was the Lord Jesus.

Ms. Bonnie's words reminded me of some lyrics in a song entitled "When All
My Labors and Trials are O'er" by Charles Gabriel:

"When, by the gift of His infinite grace, I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face, Will thro' the ages be glory for
me.

It isn't difficult for me to imagine on that glorious day when Jesus
returns, to see Ms. Bonnie rise from her grave and when she sees Jesus, her
beautiful smile will light up her smiling eyes.

That is the hope of a Christian. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3-4).

We are born again to a living hope when we place our faith and trust in
Jesus who died on the cross for our sins (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins
in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10),
and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts
2:38). God will continue to cleanse us from sin as we continue to walk in
the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9), until the Day when Jesus returns to
take God's children to their eternal home.

Yes, sweet Bonnie, when by His grace to look on His face, that will be
glory, and it will be. sweet indeed.

-- David A. Sargent

P.S. In loving memory of sweet Bonnie Allsup Crabtree, August 5, 1927 -
November 25, 2020. Until we meet again.

David A. Sargent, Minister