Today would have been my Mom's 85th birthday. She died in 1980 at 53 years old when I was 21. I miss her still. (Remember the very first posting in MILLERVENTS? One form of 'venting' comes with tears.)
I know that we all die, and that this is the "wages of sin". I wrote all about that factual nature of this life on MILLERWRITES just today. But the understanding of this truth and the full acceptance by faith that this is the way it is, is one thing. The living with its sad reality is another.
I am so glad that God Himself understands the fact that we will have things to lament. Heartbreak and loss and disaster and shock are all part of living in a fallen world. Thankfully, God did not leave us alone in such misery, but came incarnate in the human body of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the hard life of a (there's no other way to put it) bastard, growing up in a strict legalistic culture, and in a country occupied by a foreign army. His Father was a blue collar tradesman trying to feed a large family of at least 7 children (Mark 6:2,3), and he probably died young, leaving the kids to be raised by a widow. In the three years of His ministry Jesus was reviled and hated by the religious leaders of the day, and had His life threatened several times. In the end, as we commemorate on this 'Good Friday', Jesus was whipped and punched and beaten. He was mocked and scorned, abandoned by His friends, and finally tortured to death by crucifixion. Yes, He knows about human pain.
Sometimes when my Mom's birthday rolls around I express my grief by going through my wish list.
I WISH....
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (4:14)
This may be bad/sad news for those who refuse God's invitation to join Him later, and so have ONLY this life to 'enjoy', but it is good news for those willing to accept His conditional offer (simply receive the gift of eternal life!), and will thereby be reunited with others who have gone there ahead! I will see my Mom again, and she will pick on me for putting her in a frame of blue and green (she always said they should never go together!) and we will laugh and laugh over my tease for thousands and thousands of years.
I know that we all die, and that this is the "wages of sin". I wrote all about that factual nature of this life on MILLERWRITES just today. But the understanding of this truth and the full acceptance by faith that this is the way it is, is one thing. The living with its sad reality is another.
I am so glad that God Himself understands the fact that we will have things to lament. Heartbreak and loss and disaster and shock are all part of living in a fallen world. Thankfully, God did not leave us alone in such misery, but came incarnate in the human body of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the hard life of a (there's no other way to put it) bastard, growing up in a strict legalistic culture, and in a country occupied by a foreign army. His Father was a blue collar tradesman trying to feed a large family of at least 7 children (Mark 6:2,3), and he probably died young, leaving the kids to be raised by a widow. In the three years of His ministry Jesus was reviled and hated by the religious leaders of the day, and had His life threatened several times. In the end, as we commemorate on this 'Good Friday', Jesus was whipped and punched and beaten. He was mocked and scorned, abandoned by His friends, and finally tortured to death by crucifixion. Yes, He knows about human pain.
Sometimes when my Mom's birthday rolls around I express my grief by going through my wish list.I WISH....
- Mom could have met my Lilly, my wife Kiki. But, I only met her at Mom's funeral.
- Mom could have been at my wedding. Her big smile made any occasion all the brighter.
- Mom could have been around to be a blessing to Kiki when she was a new bride, and then through the hard years.
- Mom could have had the joy of being loved by my children.
- And I so wish that she could have been there to pour her love into my kids. Each of their lives would have been wonderfully more blessed by Mom's, I mean Gramma's, love.
My silly list could go on and on, but the redeeming truth is that this life will pass quickly. James, who was one of Jesus' four brothers named in Mark 6, reminds us:
This may be bad/sad news for those who refuse God's invitation to join Him later, and so have ONLY this life to 'enjoy', but it is good news for those willing to accept His conditional offer (simply receive the gift of eternal life!), and will thereby be reunited with others who have gone there ahead! I will see my Mom again, and she will pick on me for putting her in a frame of blue and green (she always said they should never go together!) and we will laugh and laugh over my tease for thousands and thousands of years.
Well, I do believe in Heaven, but I still find the lamenting the loss to be sad. In fact, I'm crying. So, call me a work in progress.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mom. One day tell her that I think she looks good in green and blue.
Crying is properly called for at times. Remember the shortest verse in the Bible? Two words; "Jesus wept."
DeleteAnd thanks for the ammo, I will be sure to tell her that Amy said she's all wet when it comes to colors!
an appropriate day for mourning, for sure. My mom is 93, I am 49 and I still can't imagine what my life will be like with out her.
ReplyDelete(((hugs))) No matter the age or the length of time one's mother is gone, she is always missed. You are just a good man, Mike and she did a good job. ♥
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that you lost your mother. I know so many people who are experiencing cancer right now. It is a tough thing to have and also tough on those who support them and who experience a loss when they don't make it.
ReplyDeleteI know we get to meet them again but it would be nice to have them here now.
All we can do is to realise that life is temporary and make the most of it.
Your mother was a beautiful woman. You were so young to lose her and she was way too young to go too.You're so right...we don't know what will happen tomorrow. I try my best not to be anxious. Nice post, Mike.
ReplyDelete