Thought For The Week

No new TFTW re: politics or culture this week. I just lost my mom to cancer, and here are my thoughts which I just posted on Facebook:

I'm sorry that I really haven't been commenting on this up until now, but I'm not the type of person to really bare myself on FB. Not criticizing those who do, but that's not me.

At 6:18 pm today, my mother passed from this world into glory. She'd had cancer back in 1980, and she never 100% recovered from that. Part of her stomach had to be removed, and she was always frail in all the years since.

I got the news several months ago that the cancer had returned, and the outlook didn't look good. She went through lots of treatments, and although she had "up" days and "down" days, the latter became more and more frequent. Over the last couple of weeks, it became more and more obvious that her time with us was running out. I won't go into the gruesome details, but my wife described her appearance as similar to "Holocaust survivor."

I just have three more things to say:

First, about my mom. As far as kindness, compassion, self-sacrifice, and keeping a joyful attitude in the midst of hardship goes, there's no one more like Christ that I've ever known. She was full of love, not just for her family but for everyone she met. Like my wife, she lit up a room every time she entered it. But most importantly, she truly loved her Savior and Lord and really showed me what that means. Like Abraham Lincoln, I can truly say that "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

Second, I'm going to issue a plea to anyone reading this. I can honestly say that I showed love, honor, and service to my mom on a regular basis BEFORE she passed. We never ended a conversation with each other without saying we loved each other, and we meant it. I certainly wasn't a perfect son--she had to forgive me quite a few times--but by God's grace I can honestly say that I won't carry guilt about things I didn't say to her or about any words I wish I could've taken back.

If there's someone in your life, especially a parent, who needs your love (and to be TOLD that you love them), the time for that is NOW. NOT when they've gone into eternity. NOT at their funeral.
Is there someone you need to call tonight? Is there someone whom you just assume knows that you love them? Is there someone whom you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from? My friend, the only time you have for that is NOW.

And finally, my mom knew exactly where she was going. At a very early age she placed her faith and trust in Jesus as her Savior and Lord, so we had no fears or doubts about this. If there's anyone reading this who doesn't have that assurance, you can, just by doing what she did: Calling on the Lord Jesus to save her and forgive her.

I'm going to see my mom again someday. When I see her again, she won't look at all like the frail cancer victim I said goodbye to. She'll finally be what her Lord created her to be, perfectly reflecting his glory in a brand new body which will NEVER be sick, NEVER be cold (a constant problem for her in her later years), and will NEVER face death again. Her adventure has just begun, and I look forward to joining her someday.

Thanks for all your prayers and sympathy for our family. God bless.