As I contemplated Mom’s passing, I wondered how I would really handle it. I was a basket case when Dad died, but I am a very different person now than I was then. Still, when the news came and we prepared for our trip to Baltimore, my feelings were very complex. They still are. I miss Mom very much, and I daily think something along the lines of, “Oh, Mom would know that, I’ll call and ask her,” only to realize that I can’t call her. Now that we are home again, and getting our lives back to “normal,” I want to share something with you all that has made my grief light and easy to bear.
As we were preparing for Mom’s memorial service, Pastor Bill Akehurst asked all of us children if we might want to say anything. We all said no; but as we sat there waiting, I was convicted to say something about faith. My thoughts turned to the Apostle Paul who wrote “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). I thought, “Mom has gotten the gain, and she is with our Savior; but what about the other part? While she was living, she was not the kind of person who boldly shared her faith.”
As I pondered these thoughts, Pastor Bill began the service. He told us how he had really not gotten to know Mom well, until he visited her three days before she passed. He related how he had shared the 23rd Psalm with her. After going over the Psalm verse by verse, he said to Mom (paraphrasing), “Ruby, these are promises God makes to those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior: do you believe Christ died on the cross for you?” When he told us that Mom had answered, “With my whole heart,” my heart soared. I knew that Mom was a Christian, but had never heard her make a profession of faith. My brother Tom confirmed what Mom had said that night. Suddenly, I realized that I was crying tears of joy. As Pastor Bill continued, he shared the good news of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and I realized, that Mom was a powerful witness. As I sat there in the front row, I looked back to see something like seventy-five people filling the room – many of them I did not know, but they knew Mom and loved her well enough to come to her service. I presume that most of these people had never heard Mom speak of her Savior. But now! – Now they were hearing her powerful testimony as Pastor Bill related how Mom loved the Lord and prepared herself to meet Him face to face.
Mom, I love you and I am proud to have you for my mother. Because of your witness, even in your passing, many have heard the Gospel of Christ who might never have heard it otherwise. Many seeds of hope and faith were planted that night. I know that God is faithful to complete the work he has begun in them and I pray for them all. I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Chuck
