hmmm…..
On this day in 2006, my Mom passed
away. I’ll probably never forget that
day. We knew my Mom was sick and that it
was near the end. My plan was to preach
that Sunday in Durant, OK and then my daughter and I would drive up to Tulsa to
be with my Mom and my family until she passed.
At the close of the service, we stood as a congregation and sang
(coincidentally) my Mom’s favorite hymn.
I had this sense that my Mom was passing by … maybe even saying farewell.
After the service, we headed toward
Tulsa, I called my brother to say we were on our way and he said, “Well … I
didn’t want to tell you this while you were driving, but Mom has already passed
away.” Somehow I knew that it had
happened. Maybe it was just my
imagination, but it has comforted me since that day to feel like Mom had said
goodbye.
Recently one of our politicians said
that someday the memory of a loved one will bring a smile before it brings
tears. He was trying to console families
who had lost someone who had been a casualty while serving in the
military. These were not casual remarks;
he spoke from his own experience of losing some of his family members in a
tragedy.
It is always hard to say goodbye to
someone we love. But Memorial Day marks
a time when we can remember with joy those who have gone before us; those we
will always hold closely in our hearts.
hmmm…..
