|
My mother passed away on April 21, 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. She had been diagnosed with melanoma just about a year before her death. She was so strong that most people did not know she was sick until the end! I am greatful for the time I got to spend with her. She was an inspiration and a friend as well as a mother. I aspire to be that self-less and loving and I will miss her every day of my life.
I used to come home from work and call her up and tell her everything that had happened over the course of the day. I was always calling her to ask her who so-and-so was and she knew everybody in the community! And their family. She was the one I turned to when I needed advice or help with a recipe or anything else. She was always there for me. We used to go shopping every week or so and I'd always take her out to eat. Sometimes I think she just thought it was for me, but I really enjoyed spending the whole day with her.
The last year of her life was even more special. She would tell us stories we hadn't heard before of her growing up and just all kinds of things. The last month, she was in a nursing home because she needed so much care, but all of us, Dad, her kids, grandkids, her sisters and brothers and other family and friends would come every day. All day long there was at least a couple of people there visiting her for a few minutes or hours. We were even allowed to spend the night which Dad did unless he was ill and then one of us kids did. Up until just the last couple of days, when she became very ill, she was always laughing and enjoying the company.
It was a very special time for us as a family and its all because of her positive attitude. She always trusted that God had a plan for her and would take care of her. Some of the rest of us couldn't believe her attitude. I, for one, was angry at God for allowing my mother to be sick. But she never was. She told us, "I prayed to God for a miracle. And when I didn't get better, I prayed for peace and little pain. And I got that miracle. I've really been very lucky."
Though her passing leaves a hole in my life, I know she is resting in the loving arms of God enjoying her just reward for a life devoted to family, church and service to others.
This scripture from 1 Corinthians 13:4 was read at my parents' wedding and we included it in her funeral program:
Love is patient and kind;
love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrong,
but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends.
She also found peace in saying her favorite prayers, the Hail Mary and the Lord's Prayer and also in this saying:
God didn’t promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain,
but He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Thank you for family and friends: Back to Index:
 
|
