This time last year, my mom ended her journey in
this world and inherited the blessings promised to disciples of Jesus. Now I look forward to our reunion in the fullness of the Age to Come.
Shortly after her passing, I shared in this
space how I found in her bedside drawer a very small piece of paper about the
size of a post-it note on which she had written this:
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I keep telling myself: "DO NOT be
dismayed:” Just trust in God’s promises:
·
to strengthen me
·
to help me
·
to hold me up
Isaiah 41:10
And w/his help, I know I can make it.
(at the bottom of this you can see a picture of the actual
note)
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I went on to say this: “In my mom's last years
she dealt with a lot of pain, but with this statement I hear her saying that
she regularly changed her mind and focused on God's promises not on her pain. I
plan to keep this little note and let it speak to me the rest of my life, for
I, too, need to keep 'telling myself' these thoughts.”
Now a year later, I can say that I have thought
of no passage of Scripture more often in the last twelve months. I made Isa4110
a part of password I use often, so
that again and again, I would be reminded of Isaiah’s words and of my mother’s
example.
Life can dismay us. It has and it will again.
New circumstances will shake us, but Isaiah and my mother helped me change my
mind many times this last year, and focus on what God has promised about
helping, strengthening and upholding. Feel free to use my password.
I remember well that MCM article and it was just as meaningful then as today. I have referred to Isa. 41:10 often this year, as well, as this has been quite a year of pain, problems and passings. God gave your mother His password and it is one we can all share safely because it comes from God. Thank you, Tom, for your always timely, ever Spirit-filled mind-changing wisdom. --Dot
ReplyDeleteSo Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI love reading these posts. They are full of encouragement, wisdom, promise, challenge, and joy. Thank you for sharing this story about your mom. My mom went on to be with the Lord a little over 6 years ago and I often think about the test of faith she went through in her final years. Ps91 was her favorite. Whenever I read it, I remember the strength she gleaned from it. It is so amazing how God has allowed His kingdom to take care of us. Thanks for giving of yourself in this way.
ReplyDelete