Blessed Homecoming

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I Peter 1:4 speaks of our inheritance as Christians. An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. One that is kept in heaven for us. So I would like to share about our mom’s beautiful last day here in this world.

A Full Day

Danny, Lenore, Diana, Randy, Janet, Margie and myself had been with mom along with many others-family and friends.

Cousin Lori and her husband Steve brought roses and memories.

Pastor Terri had come by to give communion to all of us and to pray for mom.

Afterward we sang mom’s favorite hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness. We’ll be singing that later. I encourage you to listen to the words as you sing it as this is a picture of my mom’s faith. A life well lived giving credit to the One who held her through 96 years of laughter, joy, pain, all the trials we go through in life.

Mom was anchored.

Party Ready

Her last night in the hospital-she told Liz that she had to get out of bed and get busy. When Liz asked why, she said grandma told her that she had to get ready for the party. She had things to do! 

Liz had asked what party, to which she replied, I don’t know.

When I heard that, I wondered about the celebration in heaven that awaited my mom.

That day, many of us spoke to mom about the party she was going to. 

Maggie had painted her toe nails the night before.

That afternoon, Rachel and Hannah freshened mom up, putting on a clean, pretty party dress.

Missy cut her hair.

I’m sure mom was thrilled to have her home noisy and filled with life again. Folks eating, sharing, laughing, crying, reminiscing of earlier days when life flowed freely from her home.

I’m sure she heard every word spoken to her, every memory shared. And may have wondered at the mess we were making as we looked at old photos, and found memories of cards from her wedding shower, cards of love between her and dad.

It was a full day indeed. Friends and family started trickling out. We were still expecting Sarah and Liz to stop by.

The In-between

For a moment, Mary and Ronan, Rachel and I settled into the quiet. 

I sat next to mom, speaking Scriptures over her. Singing some of the little ditties that she had taught me so many years ago. Note to Mike and my kids. I don’t make up the songs. And yes, I have a song for everything. And you can thank my mom for that! 

Mary sat down across from me. Ronan had taken to his new favorite “cousin” Rachel and followed her around as she grabbed a moment to check on her students.

Heavenly Harp-an invitation to an open heaven

I spoke to Mary about Karin Gunderson, a friend of ours, musician, who played her harp for hospice patients. I said I tried to play her music on YouTube, but ads would interrupt the beautiful sounds. 

Mary brought Karin’s music up on her phone with no ads. She placed the phone by moms’ head as we softly listened to the stories that Karin shared. Her voice was telling stories in between her beautiful harp songs.

Peaceful Presence. 

I believe the chiasm between heaven and earth was opened as we felt God’s peaceful presence.

Mom’s spirit seemed to relax, her breathing slowed. 

I grabbed Mary’s hand, we gave each other a squeeze. 

Moment Decision

We messaged the family. I went to tell Rachel - “I think we’re close.” 

As we waited . . .

I spoke to mom about her party. In my mind’s eye, I joined her and Jesus as they walked 

along the waters. “Isn’t it beautiful?” I whispered to mom. “The colors are exploding in brilliance!

The flowers-look at those gorgeous flowers, mom!”

“Your party is almost ready, mom. Danny, Diana, Randy, Margie and I were all with you today.

We’ll be ok, mom. You should join your loved ones. They’re waiting for you. You need to go so that you can plan our parties!”

Soon mom’s home was filled with people again.

Someone was always sitting by moms side. Everyone got to have their special moments with mom.

I finally sat down in the dining room for a bite to eat. As I finished my meal, the pull-down window shade on the door behind me sprang up unexpectedly. Immediately I thought, mom, did you just do that??? Apparently it startled me, as I heard some laughing at my response. 

Funny side-note, that shade never sprang up. My siblings and I had to fix many tightly wound shades in mom’s bedroom that would spring up unexpectedly. Mom being too short would have to wait for one of us to come down and fix her shades. That had become one of my checks when I would visit her, as dementia robbed her memory, I would walk into the rooms to make sure those shades were down.

But this dining room shade had never sprung. So I was surprised when it snapped up behind me!

I moved to the open chair next to mom and as all of us sat talking, the room was full, Margie would say that I announced that I had something to share. I don’t remember that.

At that moment, I somehow bumped the interchangeable frames right off of my glasses. I quickly grabbed up the frames and put them back before anyone had seen them. The problem is that EVERYONE noticed. 

Remember I had just announced that I had something to tell them. 

Some in the room were having a belly busting laugh over my unfortunate event. “My eyes were naked!” I exclaimed. They were still laughing at me.

“Mom, they’re laughing at me!” I tattled.

As we composed ourselves, I shared the funny story to which I had drawn all this attention to myself! And then we had another belly laugh!  

Then the room became quiet. You could hear a pin drop quiet! 

I looked down at my dear mom, waiting for that inhaling breath to come, but it didn’t. 

At that moment, I think the entire room knew that mom was gone.

My dear friends, mom passed away in the laughter.

In fact, I can imagine her saying to Jesus, “Ah Come on, let me have some fun!” He smiled and said, “Go ahead, have at it!” 

The window shade sprung. The glasses flew off my face. Everyone laughed as Mom and Jesus turned their gaze upon heaven. 

Her exit from this world couldn’t have been more beautiful than that! 

Mom loved laughter. She loved her family. She would have instigated such a scene!

Friends and family, when we love Jesus, we live as ones with hope. We know, by faith, that our loved ones who have passed before us are celebrating together. 

The Invitation

Can I encourage you today that Jesus is all that you need?  He delights in you. He loves you more than you can imagine. He has hopes and plans for you. Simply call on His name and He will answer you. 

Mom was the best mom. Our lives are full. But one of her greatest gifts to us, her children, was her faith in God. In the good times, in the hard times, in the everyday times. Her faith deeply affected mine. Her prayers have sustained many of you in this room as you have been through some of your difficult times. 

Mom was a faith filled, prayerful woman of God. Her God is faithful.

Let me close with the words to her favorite hymn.

These are the words that she lived by. This is the truth that mom knew.

*Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed thy hand has provided.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

*Great is Thy Faithfulness - Written by Thomas O. Chisholm in 1923, with music composed by William M. Runyan