June 8th was the anniversary of my mother’s death. She left this world quietly and peacefully, just as she had lived her long faith-filled life. My mother once told me that she could not discuss theological concepts with me as her faith had been with her forever.  

Mom, as a child of Canadian immigrant parents, learned her first prayers in French. She did not speak English until she went to school at the age of 6. She didn’t know how to debate the tough dogmatic issues that have caused dissension for centuries. She did not have the complication of many years of religion classes in grammar school, high school and college.

Her faith was simple. She trusted in the goodness of God’s will with a faith that was pure and practiced. Each morning when she placed her petitions before God, she read from a long list of people in need of God’s help. She kept track of their progress and edited her list accordingly.

When my siblings and I were children, Mom was the first teacher we had in our faith journey. As soon as we could speak, she taught us this simple prayer and said it with us each night before we went to bed. This was no small task with a house full of small children! It is a simple prayer, but one I often find myself saying at night before falling asleep. The names have changed, but the request remains the same.

“Good Night, Sweet Jesus, God bless Mommy and Daddy, my sisters and brothers (each one had to be named individually), my Memeres and Peperes, all my aunts and uncles and cousins, all my friends and relatives. (Add here any special petitions). And keep us well and happy together forever. Amen.”

I am so grateful for the blessing of my mother in my life. She practiced that simple faith every day of her life, even when the days were hard, often pleading with God “to give her strength”. She demonstrated for us the need to practice our faith. Faith is a gift given at baptism but one that needs to be cherished and exercised regularly at every opportunity. Read John 11:42, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Terri