The night had been short. Morning had come too soon, so a homeday it would be,wrapping myself even tighter in my king sized white duvae.
My fingers scrolled hungrily through photos gone by and those taken just yesterday. A younger mom, a younger dad, my children, grandchildren… much life lived.
My mind traveled the dusty roads that wound through each picture, vintage and new, holding good times/ memories that told many a story.
Amidst the scroll, my fingers stopped as my curiosity zoomed in to get a closer look. My mind quickly remembered the day I had snapped the picture. My fingers now lingered hard on it..
The day had started somewhat like this one. Paging through my mom’s yearly diaries had taken my attention over scrolling through photos.
My mind scrolled back to that particular day. A beautiful Spring day, the grass greening, the blooms opening, the trees. budding, the sun warming… a season my mom loved the most. It always spoke of new life to my mom’s heart, especially in her younger years when her large vegetable garden beckened planting to eventually stock her large pantries over the years. Those were the days she dreamed of.
But this entry fast-forwarded those earlier,.. perhaps happier years, to a season that was much more difficult for my mom and dad. This second season of their life had not been part of the dream…. life had not been kind. Mom had suffered heart issues. and dad , struck down in life by a debilitating stroke, in the midst of looking forward to an earlier retirement.
It was not in the plans. Not thier plans.
It was a new life with many a new challenge. 13 years…. mom leaving for Heaven first, with dad to follow 2 years later.
Through those incredibly difficult years, there were days both found hard to look forward with hope, as everyday had its old and new challenges, both being robbed of a retirement dreamed of.
Yet, my daughter heart saw through the challenges and found their hearts to have a foundation of Hope despite the mountain of grief and yearnings of a different life.
This photo of a journal entry that was penned just a few years before my mom entered Heaven, continued to keep my attention as I read and reread it.
“A New Year has come and gone”
“We don’t know the future, but we know who holds it”
” We must go on till we see the King face to face”
“No more tears, no more sorrows or Sickness… just rejoicing forever more!”
“What a day that will be!!!”
As long as I can remember, my mom’s Bible was a constant…laying open on her made bed, finding Hope for every day. And Hope she needed more than ever in this season.
Mom had Hope! Dad had Hope! She found it in her constant companion… her Bible! Zachariah 14 : 6-11 paints a beautiful picture of HOPE✨️
Today, no matter what season you are in amidst the hard times of grief, carry on!! and know that a BETTER day is COMING!!
Our Peace that passes understanding here…. and our ultimate HOPE in HEAVEN!!
“WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!!! (Excerpt January 2015)
In the Moment 