March 20, 2010 - Going Home

March 20, 2010 was the first day of spring. March 20, 2010 Mama went to Heaven.


While recuperating from more than her share of major setbacks since November, which in turn forced her into a nursing home, Mama stated time after time that when spring came she was going home. As always, Mom did as she said she was going to do, she made it home by spring.

Looking around at my snow covered yard today, I am reminded of the promise of re-birth. If I look really hard, I see tiny crocus and daffodil stems popping out of the hard, cold ground in places. The trees appear barren but I know with certainty that within a few weeks, the buds that you cannot yet see will begin to open and the earth will be alive with beauty and growth ONCE again. Ponder the promise of life after death, living after dying. I don’t cross my fingers and hope each year winter will turn to spring. I know with certainty that the dead will rise again. 
After a hair-raising trip to get to my mother’s hospital bed in time, it didn’t happen. I missed saying good-bye to her by just 10 minutes. She had just gone to be with the Lord as I ran down the hospital corridors. I did not question. I cried, but not as if I would not see her again. Just as the promise of spring, I know with confidence that I will see my mama again.


Today, as I woke up in my own home, I turned on my computer. An article on my homepage caught my eye about mending a broken heart. Since I woke up missing my mother and a bit broken hearted, I clicked on the article. Let me share what I found to be sad and foolish....

You may have found that you can't do it alone — can't seem to mend your broken heart.
The truth is what you really need is hope. And when you can't find it within yourself, you need to do what any smart woman would do: Buy it. For $150. You need to see a psychic.
Once you're a "believe-her," you'll start to live again.

I know if hope was for sale, people would buy it. The shelves couldn't possibly remain stocked.
I have hope. It was a gift and nothing I purchased. My hope was given to me on Easter morning when the grave was empty. The grave could not hold my Savior; thus, it cannot hold my mother. As this snow will eventually melt and the flowers will once again bloom, I celebrate my mother's life, not death.

John 11:25-26
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."