The Story of Edith Burns

This story came to me from a friend. There was no name or signature of an author so I have decided not to change the story (well, just a few cosmetic changes) but to just add a comment at the end. I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

THE STORY OF EDITH BURNS...

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people not money in his pocket. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into the waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to the young mother who sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. He nodded at her and went into his office.

Dr. Phillips walked into the office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure.

Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do."

Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?"

Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room."

After a short period of time Beverly took Edith into an examination room. Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you! Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in my room that might need to know about Easter?"

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor, from staff to patients, was so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family."

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."

One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day."

Phyllis said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'do you believe in Easter' but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted too many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked I know you are ready to hear it." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared the Easter story with Phyllis Cross. She told her of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

That Friday Phyllis came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter - Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies. She wanted to go up to see Edith and give her the lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed and that big black Bible she always had was open on her lap. Her hands were in the Bible and there was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick Edith's hand up, she realized Edith was had gone home to be with the Lord. Then she noticed that Edith's left hand was on John 14: 'In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.' Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'

Phyllis took one look at that lifeless body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks she said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting, she said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

If you believe in Easter, forward this on. God works in wonderful ways, and to believe in his power is to truly be free. If Jesus had e-mail, he'd do the same for you. (Actually, maybe He just did!)

Author Unknown

Oh for a million Edith's, what a different world we would live in today, but then we would not be following God's plan would we? Let me explain: God's plan for humanity was formed before the Earth was made and man was placed here in the garden. God has always been in perfect control of His creation and always will be. Everything happens for a reason whether we understand it or not. Everything God created was created to bring Him glory and in the fullness of His time it will!

All of man's efforts to bring about the Utopian Society will come to naught. All of our worries about the future of mankind will change nothing because God has already written the ending. Evil will be vanquished and God will rule supreme over all His creation.

Fear nothing and have complete trust in your creator!

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