I’ve lost my Mom!!  Please forgive me Father for this initial reaction.  My heart hurts, the door which brought me into this world and gave me protection, love, kindness and nurture has closed.  You have chosen to close that door, and I am struggling in my imperfection to feel anything but loss.  But please stay with me as those selfish feelings of personal impact turn into reflection upon her grace, love and strength.  Allow me to see through losing such a dear person you have shown me how truly blessed we were to have called her our Mother.  Let me see those things that she planted and grew on her journey through this life instead of concentration upon the enormous void left from her passing.  Having benefited so much from her love I cannot blame You for wanting her there with You.  Bless You for allowing us to experience that relationship for these few short years.  May she find peace and rest sitting there with You waiting for us to join her.

Some called her Margaret, some Miss Peggy but we just called her Mom.  Some knew her intimately as the woman who felt so deeply about things that she would have to sit in silence being overwhelmed by emotion.  Others knew her briefly as the lady who cared enough to stop and whisper something encouraging to someone fallen in the street, giving them the courage to get up and try again.  Many experienced her love each time they came into contact with her as they picked up medicine at the pharmacy for their sick child, aging Father or weak heart.  Some of us, the fortunate few knew all of these aspects of this complicated woman even that woman who would make you grow up quickly by telling you “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.  Regardless of which woman each of us knew, Margaret, Peggy or Mom she made each of us better.  She had enough room in her life for all of us.  I am amazed at the stories from people we never knew of the effect Mom had upon their life just by caring enough to tell them that they weren’t alone.  Whether it was a wink, a hug, a kind word or a solid word of discipline she was always there to demonstrate her love for us by participating in whatever we were experiencing.

Life was not always easy on Mom.  She had a great love for one man that was never easy and cost her more than any of us care to venture.  She suffered the pains of difficult and stubborn children who challenged her and brought her equal measure of frustration and pride.  I know this because I own many of the gray hairs that graced her wise brow.  Thankfully, she did not have to watch any of her children pass from this life before her.  She had health, wealth and relationship difficulties that often appeared to be more than one person could handle, but she did.  She had the best and the worst of this life.  She had tremendous long term friendships with so many family, colleagues and mates.  Sometimes it was all too much for her and like most of us she would have to run and hide with You Lord until the storms had passed, but she always got back in the fight, kept going, never quit.  She was a model of that ability to do what must be done each day, regardless of the challenges or circumstances in order to take care of her family and her responsibilities.  She had that tenacity it takes to overcome this life and all that it throws at us.  She was a winner and many of us have the courage to keep on kicking as a bi-product of Mom’s unrelenting dedication.  She took care of us when we couldn’t find the strength to go on because that is what she was, a good friend, a loving partner, a Mom.

Father thank You for loving us enough to send us such a great Mother.  As in most blessings we may not see all the benefits of that relationship until she has been long passed, but in this moment we clearly see how she improved our lives, giving us hope, courage and love.  We know that You love her so much that You couldn’t wait to see her and that she is smiling down on us even now wishing us well and reminding us we’re not alone.  We thank You Lord that she has finally found rest in Your Loving Embrace.  Let us remember dearly the lessons she left us and not forget the joy of her smile, the strength of her courage and tenderness of the love she had for each of us.  We have been honored by her participation in our lives.  We love you Mom and celebrate your life.  Father be with those of us who struggle to find comfort in this moment of chaos.  Let us find rest in Your Loving Arms.  We Look forward to that day when we will meet Mom again and share that peace she now enjoys.