A young woman traveling with her grandma on Good Friday discovers the importance of being ready to go home.

Leah wished they could have left earlier before the holiday rush, but there was no hurrying her grandma, who took forever to pack a small suitcase. Silver-haired, frail Opal had two speeds: slow and stop. Just like the current line of traffic on the interstate.

Opal shifted in her seat. “Oh, dear. I hope it’s not an accident.”

Leah had spotted the sign a mile back. “It’s just road construction, Grandma.”

“On Good Friday? They should be at home with their families.”

“I agree.”

Leah had hoped the same for the two of them, to be at her aunt Silva’s place by now, awaiting Easter Sunday’s ham, and days later, the drive back to college to get on with her life. Time always came to a screeching halt when she returned home every spring break.

The line of cars inched forward only to stop again, leaving Leah’s car perched on a hill and her patience on edge.

“What a beautiful cross over there in the field.” Opal adjusted her glasses. “Oh, there are three crosses. I see them now.”

“I think that’s a cemetery, Grandma.” Leah sipped her iced coffee.

Opal gazed out the window. “Can you imagine what it will be like when some of those tombstones topple over, and people rise from the dead?”

Leah started coughing.

“Are you okay, dear?”

She returned her cup to the holder. “Yeah. I just wasn’t expecting that.”

“You should. You should expect that day to come.” Opal turned back to stare at the field of stones. “Can you just imagine how the earth shook when Jesus died on the cross? Some of the tombs even broke open, and holy people were raised to life.”

“I didn’t know that happened.”

“We know from the Scriptures that it did.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Jesus warns us about the earth shaking in the end times. Wars. Famines. He warns us about all sorts of things so we aren’t caught off guard, like that sign up ahead. See it, dear? That exit ramp is closed.”

Leah leaned over to see beyond the car ahead. “I’m glad that’s not our exit.”

Opal’s green eyes reflected the sunlight hitting the dashboard. “Our exit will be such a grand one, dear. Jesus made sure of that. Angels to carry each of us home, like Lazarus. You know that story, the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus. I’ve told you that one before.” She patted Leah’s arm. “Or we’re going to be lifted up as a group, those who’ve died in Christ get to go first, and then those of us who are alive in Him, well, we’ll be caught up with them. We all get to meet Jesus in the air. Oh goodness, my skin trembles at the thought. It’s like my spirit is pushing against my flesh, longing for that day, believing it’s close.”

“Grandma, people have been saying that for so long, and it hasn’t happened yet.”

“In the twinkling of an eye, sweet child, it will happen. We could be sitting here, watching out the window as some of those graves over there split wide open, and then it’s our turn.”

Suddenly, the car shook and rocked as a semi hauling an excavator thundered past them, heading in the opposite direction. Leah jumped.

Opal patted her arm again. “You don’t need to be afraid, dear. Just make sure you’re ready to go home. No bags to pack. Just a heart surrendered to Jesus.”

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose… (Matthew 27:52 KJV.)

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“Ready to Go Home” is published in the April 2026 issue of The Outreacher Christian Magazine (www.theoutreacher.org). I’m so blessed! Thank You, Lord! Also, a big shout-out to the amazing editor, Julie Schultz, for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful ministry!