In Memory of Former (39th) President Jimmy Carter

In some cases, they were checked in prior to arrival; a place was prepared and the souls would simply appear in the receiving environment to be welcomed and inducted. This was one such case, and the soul manifested (with its guardian and two others as escort) at the appointed time. “Well, well,” a familiar voice said, “it pleases me that you are not late to dinner, James Earl. As I have told you on more than one occasion, I believe it speaks poorly of someone’s character to be late.” “Uh …,” the soul responded nervously, “I understand … and such as my arrival is not of my own timing, I must trust that I am on time, ma’am, as that is always my intention.” “Mmhmm,” the voice said, “and we also should remember that intentions do not make the man; it is by action that we distinguish ourselves - that and a healthy fear of the Lord.” “Yes, Mrs. Smith, ma’am,” the soul agreed, and looked over at its guardian and escorts (who appeared to nod also). “Now Eleanor Rosalynn has been sent into the garden to pick a bouquet of flowers for the table,” Mrs. Smith explained as she placed oven mitts onto her hands to rescue the buttermilk biscuits from the oven, “and I believe she will be pleased to put eyes on you, but hear me when I say that you are not even beholding her loveliness from a distance let alone taking her hand without combing that mop of hair and using some soap to the elbow. Do you hear me?” “Yes, ma’am,” he flubbered. “Absolutely, I wouldn’t dream …” “You all just gonna ask me to take it on faith you’re supper ready?” she asked the heavenly host rhetorically. “You go on and wash up or you can sit your choirs of selves outside.” It was strange to see them all head towards the bathroom - even the seraphim, who didn’t have hands and kept wondering, “Do we still say ‘fear not’?” amongst each other. “SOAP TO THE ELBOW! BETTER WASH THAT WORLD OFF!” Mrs. Smith called in after them. And he emerged, scrubbed, at the very moment the back door opened and there she was, all of a radiant 19 with her eyes sparkling. “Before I serve up,” her mama whispered, “allow me to tell you that you did right well, James Earl. You made us very proud, Mister President.” But he didn’t hear her like before, because of all of the angels a man gets in his life, his Rosalynn shone beyond any that could have been anticipated to put up with the likes of him. He was 22 again and all of the love the world could possibly contain was caught in his throat as he said her name out loud.