Tapper's Final Christmas

"Tapper's Final Christmas"' is a mini-story that is part of the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series.

The Story
It was around the Christmas series in the year Tapper had turned 781 years old. Tapper had grown ill and weak in the months following his birthday, with his daughters Fiona and Meaghan taking care of him every step of the way while his grandson Nehemiah became the pastor of the Smurf Village Church. Tapper had lost his wife Siobhan some years before to illness, and he had a feeling that it would soon be his time to join his wife with the Almighty in heaven. Empath and the few Smurfs that remained of his generation kept Tapper company as much as they could, hoping that he would stay with them at least until the New Year.

It was on Christmas Day that Tapper summoned his two children, his sons-in-law Natural and Slouchy, and his grandchildren together for one last prayer together. Empath watched as they formed a circle around Tapper's bed and joined hands while Tapper prayed in a weak voice.

"Oh Lord God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen, I thank You for the years You have given me as well as the children who will carry on in my stead," he prayed. "Smurf with them as they continue in this world to be your vessels of honor that they may fully smurf You in all things, that the gospel of peace shall continue to be smurfed throughout the whole world beginning in our Jerusalem, that everyone will come to know You as the one and only true God and their personal Savior. To my children, I say, 'May Jehovah bless you and keep you; may Jehovah make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; may Jehovah lift up His presence upon you, and give you peace.' In the name of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ I pray. Amen."

"Amen," the family members said together as the prayer ended.

Empath watched as the family members tearfully embraced Tapper for what may be their last time together on this earth, knowing that this was just a temporary goodbye for they will see each other again in heaven. He felt a tear forming in his eye, knowing that he was going to lose yet another close friend in this physical life that he knew.

After the family members left, Empath joined Tapper at his bedside. "It seems ironic now that I must be the one who will smurf you comfort while you are smurfing there, waiting for your moment of departure, Tapper," Empath said. "It seems like yesterday that you smurfed to me when I was just a Smurfling visiting the village from Psychelia and you offered me a glass of sarsaparilla ale to make me feel like a Smurf."

"It seems strangely fitting that my passing from this world should happen on the day that my Lord and Savior has entered into the world as a man, Empath," Tapper said. "But then I am reminded that a person in Scripture named Simeon saw the Christ in the temple when His parents smurfed Him there to present Him before the Lord, that the Spirit told that man he would not depart from this world before seeing the Christ. I have smurfed the Lord face to face in my time travels, and I am fully convinced in what I have believed for years, even until now."

"But don't you worry about the judgment that is smurfed before you, Tapper, that you may be found to not have accomplished everything the Almighty has smurfed you out to do as His servant?" Empath asked.

"I know that I will be judged, my friend, but I do not fear, for I know that the Almighty has smurfed into my heart and has found me faithful," Tapper said. "Whether the entire village is saved or not, I have smurfed what Paul the apostle had said about himself before his passing: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Hereafter, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all the ones loving His appearing.'"

"Are you ashamed that I still have not chosen to become a believer before your passing?" Empath asked.

"The Lord has smurfed me what path you will smurf when I am gone, and I will leave it in His hands to fulfill when it is time," Tapper said. "But know this, that I have always loved you with the love that the Almighty has smurfed to me, and that I will always love you."

Empath nodded in understanding, finding himself feeling choked up in emotion. "I can sense that it is now time for you to depart, Tapper. I will let you join the Almighty now."

Then a bright shining angel appeared in the room on the other side of Tapper's bed. "Naomhan, I have been sent to take your soul into heaven now," the angel said.

Tapper looked at the angel and smiled. "I know. I am ready. Goodbye, my fellow Empath."

Then in the next moment, the room glowed bright as Empath saw Tapper's soul depart from his body, standing next to the angel and holding her hand. And then suddenly in a flash, both the angel and Tapper's soul were gone, and his friend's body laid lifeless in the bed. Empath placed Tapper's hand back onto the bed, closed his friend's eyes, and wept for him.

To be expanded upon.