[I am not certain if this story is true, but even if it is not, it speaks of the challenge of sharing effectively and simply what we believe.]

Edith Burns was a delightful woman who lived in San Antonio, Texas.  She was also the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips.  Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people.  His favorite pastient was Edith Burns - and for good reason as you will soon learn.

One morning Dr. Phillips went to his office with a heavy heart.  Based on laboratory reports he had reviewed the previous day, he was anticipating a very difficult appointment with his most prized patient.  When he walked into that waiting room that morning, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap, earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  That was no surprise to Dr. Phillips.  Edith 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 she would lead people to faith in Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillps walked  past Edith and continued toward his office where his head nurse, Beverly, was waiting.  Seeing her, the good doctor recalled how Beverly had first met Edith years ago when she was taking her blood pressure.  Edith began characteristically 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?"

"It's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up," replied Beverly.  The "door" swung open and Edith began to share.  Before long, Edith was praying with Beverly to receive Christ as her Savior.

With that memory still fresh in his mind, 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!"  Beverly knew exactly what he meant.

After being called back in the doctor's office, 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 and a deep sigh he said, "Your lab report came back and it reveals you have cancer.  Edith, its really bad... you don't have long to live."

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 told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

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

Edith kept regular check-up appointments with Dr. Phillips.  Christmas came and the office was closed until after the first of the year.  On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up as scheduled.  Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would be moving her story to the hospital and siad, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in my room who need to know about Easter."

They did just that, perhaps not deliberately, yet patient after patient who had the privilege of sharing a hospital room with Edith not only went home with health in their bodies but also with a heart filed with the love of Christ.  Edith had blessed everyone on that floor - from staff to patients - in some way.  They were so touched with her person and her message that they started calling her "Edith Easter"; that is, everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

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

One morning the two nurses who normally took care of Edith were sick.  Edith had the flu and the responsibility of giving her a shot fell to Phyllis Cross.  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 said, "Well you can quit praying for me because it won't work.  I'm not interested."

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

"Then you will never die because that will never happen," replied Phyllis.  She curtly walked out fo the room.

Every day Phyllis 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 was drawn to Edith's room, in her words, "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 Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me.  Why?"

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to ask you many times, but God told me to wait until you asked.  Now that you have asked, I will tell you."  Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter story 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."  Moments later, Edith prayed with Phyllis as she invited Jesus into her heart.  After many years of running and hiding and looking for life in all the wrong places, Phyllis had finally come home.

Shortly thereafter, as irony would have it, Easter Sunday rolled around.  Phyllis arrived at work as usual that day, but her life was anything but usual, thanks to the witness of Edith Burns.  Phyllis engaged some of her initial duties and then went down to the flower shop and purchased an Easter lily for Edith so that she could wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed.  That big black Bible was on her lap.  Her fands were in that Bible.  There was a sweet smile on her face.  When Phyllis went to pick up her and, she realized that Edith was gone.  Through eyes that were filling up with tears, Edith's left hand was on John 14:2-3 - "In my Father's house are many rooms.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  Edith's right hand was on Revelation 24:4 - "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 her cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"  Then she turned, and walked out of the room.  Nearby, two student nurses were having a conversation.  she walked right up to them and said, "My name is Phyllis Cross.  Do you believe in Easter?"

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