This past week I lost my loving, caring, supportive, funny, smart as a whip, sassy little mom.  It was a shock to hear the words “Mom died tonight” in the phone call from my brother. We knew her time was near as she had entered full-time hospice the week before, but it was still a gut punch. I cried tears of sadness, but at the same time it was a relief and a blessing as Mom suffered four-and-one-half years from dementia.  Each time I visited her in person or talked to her on the phone, she was a little worse and never did realize what was happening to her. It was pitiful to see the decline and my heart hurt for her.  I prayed everyday for her to have peace, comfort, no pain and strength to endure.

It is a sad time for our family, but also a joyful time.  First of all, and most importantly, she has gone to be with the Lord she loved and she was looking forward to that.  She also reunited with my dad and my brother whom she missed terribly.  She was the youngest of eight children and the last to pass. My cousins and I discussed yesterday that certainly they all were waiting for her and welcomed her with loving arms just as the Heavenly Father did.  They are all laughing, arguing, playing cards, teasing each other and drinking wine and loving each other as they did here on earth. How can we not be happy to know that.

I read this several years ago and I saved it as I thought it was so true.

Your mom is always with you. She’s the smell of certain foods you remember.  She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well. She’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day. She is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She’s the place you come from, your first home. She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy.  But nothing on Earth can separate you.  Not time…not space…not even death.

My mother is gone from this earth, but she is not, nor will she ever be, gone from my heart.  Like God loves us unconditionally, most mothers unconditionally love their children and I always felt that from my mom, just as I feel it from God.  Nothing can separate us, even death. 

My mother has the peace and comfort I prayed for and is pain-free. My prayers were answered.  Thanks be to God.

Patty