Mama never was one who expressed her feelings easily. She showed us her love by doing-by hours and hours stooped over the sewing machine, or in the kitchen making loaves of bread and dozens of cookies.
She didn’t show us her faith easily either. She took us to church, I saw her read her Bible in bed at night, we prayed together before meals, but she wasn’t what I would call a passionate Jesus follower. As I grew older, this caused a hurt in my heart. Sometimes you just need to know your mama is in your corner storming heaven’s gate in prayer on your behalf.
When Mama, now 85, fell and broke her hip on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, it caused a snowball of other medical complications resulting in three hospitalizations. She was finally able to return to her little apartment in assisted living with a lot of extra assistance from the staff there. One evening my brother, my sister, and I asked her what she wanted us to do if she got sick again. She expressed the desire to go on hospice, to be cared for by hospice nurses in her little apartment there, no more hospitalizations, no more heroic lifesaving measures. She said she wanted to go home to be with Jesus, and she wanted us kids to let her go. After much discussion, lots of tears and hugs, my mama prayed over us. She thanked God for all of her blessings. She boldly asked Him that every one of her descendants would know Him, that not one would be lost. She prayed a blessing over us. She prayed boldly, beautifully, passionately. I left her little room that night my heart at peace. God, and Mama, had given me a great gift.
continuing to count His gifts…
#806-#822
-my Mama’s prayer
-God’s sweet presence
-Christmas shopping and Thai food with the Hubs
-a sunny December day and a wonderful walk
-an afternoon with youngest granddaughter
-phone calls and skype visits with my other grandbabies
-a sweet Saturday
-baking cinnamon cranberry bread
-pre-Christmas house cleaning done!
-listening to Christmas carols
-the Hubs in his home office studying for Sunday, listening to worship music
-a late afternoon walk
-gathering holly and greens for the house
-Truelife Church kid’s Christmas presentation
-sweet cards and gifts from our Truelife Church family
Gratefully yours,
Elizabeth
join the gratitude gatherers here~
Tears of joy filled my eyes as I read of your mama's gift - there could be no better! What a treasure - you will cherish it always in your heart. Thank you for sharing your gift with us. It means much, my friend. I am so blessed when my dear, little mother prays for me. And I know she does more times than I know. I'm sure your mama is the same.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
I share your joy knowing your Mom is ok and that she is a Jesus lover as well.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all of you.
Dear Elizabeth, What a precious gift! Thank you for sharing it with us. Blessed Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joy divine!
ReplyDeleteThe blessing of a parent to a child is one of the greatest gifts.
A praying Mama is a comfort to the heart.
Thanks for sharing this. It challenged me to pray more steadfastly for MY kids.
Merry Christmas to you!