"RED ROSE"

Without question, Coco was a “daddy’s girl.” Named after the maker of her deceased mother’s favorite perfume, Coco was raised by her father.

Coco’s mom and dad met in Reno, Nevada while both were recent college graduates from the University of Nevada. Dad was working as a craps dealer and mom was working as a casino revue dancer while they were looking for career jobs in their field of study, petroleum engineering.

Beginning work with Exxon Oil required Coco’s parents to relocate to the oil and gas fields in Oklahoma. Coco’s dad’s mother lived alone in Hartshorne, Oklahoma in a huge two story older home so Coco, only one year old and her parents moved in with Nana. Less than six months later, Coco’s mother was killed in an oil rig mishap. Less than three months after her mother’s tragic death, her Nana died from a heart attack, leaving Coco now two years old with only her daddy.

Coco’s daddy was one of those super dads. He raised Coco alone but he made certain she had home cooked meals, clean clothes, participated in all of her school activities and took her to Sunday School and Church each week.

Coco’s upbringing included her dad creating several family traditions even though it was just the two of them. One tradition was “Joke Night”, held every Tuesday night without exception. Each would tell jokes they heard or made up each week creating fun, humor and enjoyable times at the dinner table.

When Coco left to attend college, she tried to get her dad to start dating again but he would always say; “once your heart is stolen by someone you love, you never want to find it.”

Decades later, Coco’s dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and Coco was divorced with her own children in college so she returned to Hartshorne to care for her dad as he was facing the end of life.

Coco was fortunate to be able to sit at her daddy’s bedside and have lots of talks with him during his last weeks on earth. Most of his last month was spent in a hospital until they arranged hospice to begin care. Coco and her dad had many conversations as he drew closer and closer to death and spoke many times about death and heaven.

In one such conversation about heaven Coco said: "Daddy, could we have a secret, something just between us? I know it's going to sound crazy. But if you die and when you get to heaven, if it's more than you ever dreamed it would be, if you are all right and see God and Jesus, would you send me one red rose?"

This was a very special moment between Coco and her daddy, an eternal moment. Her daddy said, "Yes, my little girl I'll do that."

A week later Coco said, "Look dad about our secret, I'll be on earth and you'll be in heaven. How are you going to get a rose to me?" Her dad responded without reservation; "Oh honey, God can do anything!"

The next week Coco’s daddy passed away. Even though it was expected, Coco was crushed by her daddy’s death. So much to do with funeral arrangements, notifying friends and coworkers that the woman forgot completely about the secret she and her daddy had shared. Then at the funeral home, during the public viewing a strange thing happened.

All of the sudden in the back of the funeral home Coco caught a glimpse of an elderly woman with a cane. She didn't know the lady and was sure that she had never seen or met her before. Coco turned and looked at her... as she knelt down at her father’s coffin and placed in her daddy’s hands just one beautiful red rose. Coco walked over to her and inquired what made her bring the rose. She said, "oh honey, for some reason all day today I had a red rose on my mind, all day I have been thinking about it. I just knew I had to get one red rose for your daddy."

The elderly lady left without ever identifying herself or how she knew Coco’s daddy.

Let me suggest to you that God is real and sometimes in His graciousness and love, He will, for just a moment pull back the curtain and allow us to see beyond our limited view of life and death. Right now if you believe this story and it has touched your heart, isn't it about time you got right with God and accepted His Son into your heart. Don't wait because if you do it may be too late. Accept Christ today as your Lord and Savior and become part of the eternal kingdom of God. After all heaven was more than this woman's mother.