A Hug That Won’t Let Go!

    

When Al and I visited his family in Michigan last March, we tried to spend time with his ninety-six year old mother every day. Al’s sister, Ann, had forewarned us that Mom Char was sleeping a lot more than usual. But whenever we arrived, she would always wake right up, happy to see us.

      One day Al and I stayed for the noon meal with her. The three of us along with another resident at the assisted living home sat at a round table in the dining room, chatting and enjoying the opportunity of being together. Char wanted us to meet Larry, one of the servers who was also a very good singer. At the end of the meal, Larry surprised us with a special serenade just for her. Mom Char’s face glowed with joy.

     We drove back another evening so that we could attend a prayer meeting with her. A small group had assembled in the lounge when Al and I arrived. Two families had started the prayer meeting several years ago, bringing along their children, a special treat. Mom Char tried her best to make those evening prayer sessions.

     While we were there, one of the little girls went over to her and complimented her. “I like your scarf,” she said. “It’s beautiful!” We thanked each of them for their faithfulness in coming to the residence home every other Friday night. They were a great source of blessing for Char and many others.

      On Sunday morning, Ann, Char, Al and I met at church. She wasn’t able to stand up too long or see the hymnal; however, she was smiling. It was special being with her in the place where she had worshipped for over sixty years.

      Just before our flight home, we sat in her little room, Al beside her on the bed and I in the chair directly across from them. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight squeeze. “Well, mom,” he said, “you just can’t do that over the phone!” Mom Char laughed and hugged him even tighter, like she didn’t want to let go! Then it was my turn.

     ”I want to walk you to the front door,” she insisted, standing up with her walker. The three of us went down the hall. She gave us one last hug before sending us on our way.

     “We’ll see you when we return in July,” Al told her.

      “No, I won’t be here then,” she responded as she stood in the doorway waving. A final good-bye?

     The weakness continued, taking over little by little, although she was determined not to sleep away the rest of her life. She tried keeping up with her exercise class, and even went to a Detroit Tigers home game with several of the residents and staff.

      We would end every phone conversation with her by sending invisible hugs and blowing noisy kisses. “Oh, I caught one,” she’d say, blowing them right back to us.

      On the morning of May 22, our dear mother peacefully passed on to heaven, with family and friends at her side. How did she know?

     Thank you, dear Father, for our wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandma too. Please give her a big hug for us! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

     Here they come, dear mom Char. Hugs and kisses to you!

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV

(Published in the Porterville Recorder June 7, 2014)