February 26, 2009

• REMEMBERING MOMA

  PTL I finally feel halfway decent again! Now I have a mountain of laundry to catch up on. But first I want to remember:

  One year ago today my life changed forever when my mother stepped out of this life and into eternity with Jesus. Sometimes I miss her so much I don't think I will be able to stand it... but somehow I do. Moma told me many times in her last months not to be sad when she was gone. My response was always the same... I'd tell her I couldn't promise never to be sad, because I would miss her. But I would always assure her I would be okay. And I am.

  Memories of times with Moma more often bring a smile than a tear these days.  For I am blessed to have had a mother who filled my life with memories of love and home and laughter. She showed me what love looks like. I could write a post so long xanga wouldn't hold it filled with memories of the special times Moma and I have spent together. I could write about some of my earliest childhood memories... sitting on the kitchen cabinet learning to cook, baking a cake that looks like a rabbit with colored coconut and jelly beans for eggs at Eastertime, times at the sewing machine learning to sew. I still have the first sewing project we made together... a green cotton apron with rickrack at the hem... the way she made birthdays special, trips to Austin every summer and fall, late night boy advice... I could write about the early years of my life a wife... like the day she helped me can vegetables from my first garden while I was in labor with my son.... Or I could write about the many "girls day out" shopping trips through the years... first just she and I, and then my daughter too.... those were always special times.

  But none of those are my favorite memory of our times together.  No! The most precious memories of all are not about shopping, or childhood lessons, but times when we shared our faith. Times when we sang and praised the Lord together. For during those times we were more than mother and daughter ~ we were sisters in Christ. I especially treasure that last year when Moma was too weak to stand for long and we took her with us to church in a wheelchair. I loved catching her out of the corner of my eye hands lifted to the Lord!  And nothing could be more precious than being with her when she slipped into eternity.

  From my earliest memories, until his dying day, whenever the subject of mothers came up my Daddy would always get misty-eyed and say, "Your mother is the best friend you'll ever have." And he was right! I would have so loved to meet his mother, but she died before I was born. But I'm thinking he had that same kind of bond with her.

  On Daddy's first birthday in Heaven Moma and I went out to eat catfish in his honor... something he especially loved to do. So today I am going to try to think of something Moma loved and do that!

  “Death's power is limited.

  It cannot eradicate memories or slay love.

  It cannot destroy even a threadbare faith

  or permanently hobble the smallest hope in God.

  It cannot permeate the soul and it cannot cripple the spirit.

  It merely separates us for awhile.

  That is the only power death can claim - no more!"

  Donna Vanliere from her book, The Christmas Shoes

  • 8:35 am
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