Bye Ma

inkspot

inkspot

Beloved Disciple
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Emeritus
The weather turned nice here in East Texas. Fall feels a little bit cool but the sky is blue and the day is sunny. I'm working next to an open window ... For some reason it reminded me of my Mum's last days, when she was living in the assisted living place.

It was in Scottsdale, Arizona, where my brothers are, but I visited her as often as I could. Just down the street from her place was a coffee shop, Echo Coffee, where we used to go most mornings for breakfast while I was in town, and some afternoons for tea ... You could sit on a little patio outside and enjoy a pastry and your beverage. In the spring and fall, the weather was so pretty. In that part of town, you can look for miles out at the McDowell Mountains, beautiful deep blue sky, lovely blue and purple mountains, green palos verdes trees with yellow leaves in the springtime ...

My mum was suffering the beginning symptoms of Alzheimers. She always recognized me and stuff, but she wasn't as sharp as she had been, and she talked less. But she still enjoyed her coffee, and danish, and being with her kids and grand kids. Something about today reminded me of those bittersweet days ... and it made me miss her. She died on September 11, 2011, so it has been 2 years now. I like to think about her with Jesus, so happy, and whole. But I still miss having breakfast with her on a cool, sunny day. :(
 
Thank you for sharing these precious memories.
Today I took my daughter for a pedicure/manicure at the spa where I used to take my mom. The owner greeted us and said, "I miss your mom... How long has it been?" and as we shared we had a precious moment of connection and sweetness. So I am on the same page as you today...
 
A lovely description of the environment and location, Inkspot.
I miss my mum too. She passed away in November 2009, after a month in hospital. This was shortly before her 95th birthday, so I can't complain. However, I have no doubt that both our mums have gone to a better place.
 
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Inky, I like to think she not only lives on in Heaven but also in all the ways she's influenced you. There is only one rock that fell in the pond but there are lots of ripples who exist because of it.
 
Benisse said:
Thank you for sharing these precious memories.
Today I took my daughter for a pedicure/manicure at the spa where I used to take my mom. The owner greeted us and said, "I miss your mom... How long has it been?" and as we shared we had a precious moment of connection and sweetness. So I am on the same page as you today...
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Oh, thank you for sharing this ... I know how you feel. You and I were going through a similar situation, but you had your mum with you all the time, it must be an even bigger adjustment.
CORIN THUNDERFIST II said:
A lovely description of the environment and location, Inkspot.
I miss my mum too. She passed away in November 2009, after a month in hospital. This was shortly before her 95th birthday, so I can't complain. However, I have no doubt that both our mums have gone to a better place.
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Thank you! I agree whole-heartedly. My mum had just turned 83 I believe, and she was ready to be moving on; I don't feel sad about that. Only that she's not here with me now ...
EveningStar said:
Inky, I like to think she not only lives on in Heaven but also in all the ways she's influenced you. There is only one rock that fell in the pond but there are lots of ripples who exist because of it.
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Oh, thank you ES. This thought made me feel very happy. You are exactly right.
 
If a deceased person does not have AN ACTUAL CONSCIOUS AFTERLIFE IN A REAL ETERNITY, then all of the living on in our memory does EXACTLY ZERO GOOD for the deceased person. But when we DO have the assurance of Heaven, then the departed living on in our memory is AN ADDED BENEFIT.
 
Copperfox said:
If a deceased person does not have AN ACTUAL CONSCIOUS AFTERLIFE IN A REAL ETERNITY, then all of the living on in our memory does EXACTLY ZERO GOOD for the deceased person. But when we DO have the assurance of Heaven, then the departed living on in our memory is AN ADDED BENEFIT.
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That's a good way to look at it, thanks CF. But if this is so in the way many Christians apprehend it, I wonder how people can bear it who believe only those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Savior in this lifetime can be in heaven? We all have loved truly wonderful people who nevertheless didn't "know Jesus" in the way we evangelicals think is required for eternal life with him. How hard it would be to consider those people either lost forever (as in gone) or suffering eternal torment. :(
 
What about those who never even hear about the Saviour in this life? I cannot believe that they are all damned. I am concerned about those who turn away from Christianity and embrace atheism, and die in that state. What hope is there for them?
 
Good questions. Of course, this is a different topic which people have debated down through the centuries. For me, I think I cannot be more compassionate than God, and I can see that it is cruel to punish people for eternity for a mistake they didn't even know they were making. If God is less cruel than me (which must be true!) then there must be some provision for those who never hear His Word. That's my thought. We have to trust that He will be just and merciful as He claims to be.
 
The opinion I have expressed before on this question is:

Although Christians are expected to proclaim Jesus as what He is, the only eternal Savior Who ever existed anyplace or ever could exist anyplace, this doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit cannot MAKE HIS OWN outreach to souls. It is possible that, where people have never gotten the chance to hear the gospel FROM HUMANS, the Holy Spirit Himself can make them aware of what the choice is before they die.
 
My Mum is 77 and my Father is 80. I know that it won't be too long before they pass on. It makes me sad because I have lived with them most of my life and they are very special people. We are best friends really. I will miss them terribly.....unless I go first of course.
 
These are powerful and important sentiments, Honza. My prayer for you is that all that is in your heart can be said, that your parents will be blessed by your caring and respect, and that you can lift one another up today and every day. What a privilege to have your folks still!
 
Benisse said:
These are powerful and important sentiments, Honza. My prayer for you is that all that is in your heart can be said, that your parents will be blessed by your caring and respect, and that you can lift one another up today and every day. What a privilege to have your folks still!
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I echo Benisse. Make sure your parents know how you feel ... they will be happy to hear it, and in the future, when you can't speak to them face to face anymore, you will be so glad that they heard you. You are blessed to have them in your life! :)
 
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