On this Memorial Day weekend I have been thinking a lot about my mother…to be honest, I usually am thinking a lot about my mother, but today I think I had a breakthrough of sorts. For those who don’t know, my mother died three years ago when her breast cancer returned after a 6-year remission. Ever since she got sick again I’ve thought and said aloud that she lost her fight with cancer. But I realized a few minutes ago that I am wrong. Cancer didn’t win! It certainly laid her low and made us all miserable to see her so sick, but cancer didn’t win.
Who won? God won! The Jehovah that Mom had studied with her Grandmother Bateman as a small girl, the God she told us all about who was so alive for her that her favorite hymn was “In the Garden” — when she was too sick to continue on this earth, her God gathered her up in his loving arms and took her home with Him in Heaven.
Does realizing this make me miss Mom any less than I did before? Of course not. I still miss her in every corner of my being. But realizing this will make me tell her story differently, because it is no longer a story of loss, but one of triumph! No longer will I say, “Cancer took her from us,” but “God called her home”. Home where she is no longer sick, and will be waiting for us when it is our turn.
I love you, Mom.
triggershorse 
momfawn: It’s not easy to be without our moms, ever. But I am finding that just as my understanding and capacity to love expanded with the addition of children-in-law, and then grandchildren, I am finding my father’s death to be a broadening of my perspective on the greatness and beauty of all of our family relationships. Thank you for sharing your journey. I’m happy to have found your blog.
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Welcome to Triggershorse, Julie. I’m glad you’re here. I find myself spending more time working on the quality of those family relationships since Mom died…making sure my family realizes how precious they are to me, as well as making sure my oldest granddaughter remembers her Great-Grammy, and the younger one knows about her through our memories.
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Wow! What a great perspective! You are right on too. I think we give cancer far too much credit sometimes. Yes it’s a horrible disease, but it’s no where near as powerful as God! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
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This perspective puts a smile in me and almost feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Thank you so much for spending your time to blog about it! They say that you never know who your words are going to help….. well you know tonight that they helped me! I love you so much!
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I loved our conversation afterwards, too, Tami. I know God wants us to continue encouraging those we love in so many different ways. You encourage me with your fresh enthusiasm for life (yes, and for how innocent you still are with some things…). Hugs to you.
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Thank you, Trina. You continue to inspire me with your clarity where God is concerned. I appreciate your insights.
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