Angels by My Side

One of my friends who has finished her cancer treatments shared some things with me that she has learned during this time. As she commented on her network of friends being instrumental in her journey, I too began to think about the angels by my side during my mother's recent illness and death. I want to share my reflections with you.

A text or phone call(even when I didn't answer), cards in the mail, gift cards for nights Charlie or others didn't cook, cleaning my house, taking mother a "happy meal", sitting with her in rehab,visits to the hospital and emergency room, fresh flowers, pulling up the carpet, teaching Sunday school, leading prayer breakfast, hosting UMYF, prayer chains, pintos and cornbread like my mother made, taking me to Charlotte or Catherine to Chapel Hill, laughter, tears, being at the funeral, childhood friends, feeling the love of two church families, reading my mind, decorating my Christmas tree, thanksgiving meal on wheels, riding the bus to be there for me, understanding when being present was the best I could do and not expecting anything more,navigating medical and financial decisions that were beyond my comprehension, encouraging tweets, writing on cat's wall, filling our fridge and freezer(most unusual sight),loving mamaw as your own, making new friends, going the distance to show us how much we are loved.

In scripture we find that Jesus knows our needs before we even ask. Thank you to everyone who showed me the face of Jesus. You knew my needs before I even asked.

Surely,Goodness and Mercy

Well, it has been awhile since my last post. A lot has happened recently, namely the illness and death of my mother. It's as if someone hit the pause button of life. I feel as if I have not been in the real world since Thanksgiving. A minister friend said to me " you are trying to jump back on the carousel, and it's scary and uneven". He's right, I have never been an orphan before. Thank goodness for my faith which gives me the calm assurance that I can face uncertain days, steps and emotions. As I prepared for my Sabbath women's study this week, A Confident Heart, our lesson was about stepping out of the shadow of doubt. So getting back to my blog and posting on Renee's site(on-line Bible study) have been two of my goals this week. By the way, I recommend her book and study to anyone reading this.

Now back to my message this week. Catherine reminded me this week how the fruits of my relationship with mother came to life in the darkest of time. It is no accident that my Bible study this week talked about living in the LIGHT. My mother gave me the greatest gift ever when I inherited her abiding faith. Through this entire ordeal dating back 5 years ago when she first came to live with us, I never questioned or looked back, I only moved forward in faith. In her final days, mother sought clarity and understanding from the one who knew her best, her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. On the night she died, I gave my first and only concert! I sat by her bed in a dimly lit room and sang some of the church's greatest hymns. "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" because of that divine moment. I believe it brought her as much comfort as it did me.