Even though my Mom has been gone for decades now, I still remember her smile, her soft voice, the joy on her face as she sang in worship, her tenderness towards us, and her caring, unselfish nature. I can still remember seeing her on her knees praying, rocking my baby brother, fixing a meal in the kitchen, and standing at the door when I came home from school. I remember her patience and tenderness as she brushed tangles out of my long hair, and how she calmed my fears when I woke up in the middle of the night from a bad dream.
My Mom died after an extended illness when I was six. She knew she was dying, but her kids didn’t. She was confined to bed at home until the last couple of days, but she would spend time with each of her kids every day. On her good days we could take our plates into her room and have a meal together, although she was unable to eat much herself. Any time spent with her was priceless, even if all I could do was sit and hold her hand while she coughed and struggled for her next breath.
It was hard for a “mommy’s girl” to see her beloved Mommy growing weaker every day, although she bravely put on a strong front when we kids were in her room. She was a quiet natured woman with a sweet, humble personality. That’s not just the opinion of a biased six-year-old, it’s what others have told me about her too. It must have been hard to know she was dying and leaving her husband and children behind, as well as her own mother and siblings. She knew where she was going, so she wasn’t afraid of dying, and that was evident in the way she gracefully accepted her pending death.
I remember various things she told me during those last days, but she taught me much more than her words could have expressed. As an adult looking back on those last weeks with her, I’ve come to realize that my Mom taught me eternal lessons as she lived through her dying days.
She taught me that when you belong to Jesus Christ you don’t have to worry about dying. Death is temporary, life with Jesus is forever.
She taught me that when you trust Jesus you know He will take care of those you leave behind, and He will never forget the prayers you prayed for them on earth.
She taught me that His grace is sufficient, His mercy never fails, and regardless of what I’m going through He is always with me.
She taught me to believe His promises, because He is faithful to His promises.
She taught me to look forward to Heaven, where there’s no pain, tears, or dying.
She lived out her faith gracefully until the end, even while suffering.
The end for her here was just the beginning for her in eternity, and I look forward to seeing her again in Heaven.
(Graphic is from www.timothyreport.com)
