Mom

Today would have been my mom's 77th birthday (April 11, 1933). Unfortunately, she passed away from cancer on November 10, 2006. When she was diagnosed with the disease that previous July, I only had one prayer. My mom was a wife for nearly 53 years, the mother of six, grandmother of thirteen and, if she were still alive today, would soon be a great grandmother for the third time. This was the woman who without hesitation worked two jobs to support the family when my father had a stroke in 1982. The same woman who respectfully declined my best friend's mother, who offered to take me in for a short time while my mother got things situated, after my dad's stroke. I was 11. The woman who got up at 4 in the morning and worked until 11 PM for years. The stories are endless of her love and dedication to my father and our family. Yet, when cancer had reared its head in her life my prayer was not for God to restore her health which would have been great. My prayer was that God would use her illness to bring people to a knowledge of Jesus Christ and strengthen the faith of those already in Him. And, if at all possible, to use me in the process.

I have to admit that I was never quite certain of my mother's salvation. However, when I asked her if she was afraid to die, she replied, "No, I have just given it all to the Lord. I just don't want to be in pain." Much of my concern subsided after that. When Jesus healed the boy of the evil Spirit in Mark 9, the father of the boy asked the Lord to "help me overcome my unbelief (Mk 9:24)." No matter how strong our faith is we still have those times we need help in our unbelief. On the day my mother passed God helped me in my unbelief. The following is taken from the program of her funeral. "With her eyes closed and her breathing suddenly no longer difficult, Alleyene, opened her eyes brightly and looked to her right and then suddenly, she turned her head to the left and upward with a look of joy, awe and amazement on her face---her eyes without blinking remained steadily and joyously focused upward. Her family, amazed at what they were witnessing, exclaimed with joy and excitement, "look at her!" Alleyene, filled with the Holy Spirit, 'looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55).' Her family, praising and thanking God, encouraged her to go to Jesus. Then her life on earth slowly ended as her soul entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life."

God answered my prayer, strengthened my faith and helped me in my unbelief. I hope this encourages you as much as living through it encouraged me. May God continue to reveal to you all the blessings you already have been given through faith in Jesus Christ, including the blessings of a loving mother. Have a blessed day, Saints!