Missing Her, But So Thankful For Her Legacy

Today marks four years since Mom went home to be with the Lord. I miss her just as much as the day Jesus took her home.




There may be less days with tears, but the days that there are tears, they can fill a 10 gallon pail. And as I contemplate the home she resides in (and will for eternity) I think back on yesterday. I really mean yesterday.

Easter. Resurrection Day. The Empty Tomb. The Stone Rolled Away.

This is where my hope lies. I will see my mom again.

Until then, I have so many amazing memories and she left one gigantic legacy that is alive in all of her family.

There are songs. There are faces. There are habits. One particular song she often sang to my children when they were younger was:

"Alive, Alive, Alive forevermore. My Jesus is Alive, Alive Forevermore. Alive, Alive, Alive forevermore. My Jesus is Alive. Sing Hallelujah. Sing Hallelujah. My Jesus is Alive."

Oh, how this speaks volumes now.

This year I decided to ask my children what was one of their favorite memories of their Gran.

"Hoss" and "Little Joe" are continuing to deal with it in their own way. This is a difficult day for them too.

"Marie" had lots to say: "I remember her reading to me and playing war. I loved the days she would take me out by herself for lunch and a surprise gift. I really loved her laugh mom. (Everyone loved mom's laugh) When we spent the night she would always have a special breakfast for us. I remember making good fun of her old granny glasses that sat on her nose. She would always make a silly face too. She always told me how much she loved me and how special I was."

"Inger" remembers, "Popsicles, Ice Cream, and the cookies, Miss Patty brings at Christmas." (Since my littlest has very few memories, I am so thankful for "Aunt Patty", Mom's best friend, who keeps some memories alive. Raspberry Meringue Kisses my mom made every year at Christmas for as long as I can remember.)

Someone recently said, "When a believer dies, they are not going from the land of the living to the dead. They are going from the land of the dead to the land of the living."

I can't wait to join her!

His Righteousness For My Heinous Sins

Good Friday. Absolutely Glorious Friday. Grievous Friday. Absolutley Painstaking Friday.

Today is the day we remember a beautiful exchange. Christ took all of the sins of all who would believe on Himself and gave us His righteousness. Wow! God crushed His only Son for us! 

Friday is here, yet we know without Sunday, his death would have meant nothing. We needed our sin forgiven, but our Savior could not stay in the ground. He had to overcome sin and Satan. 

He did and for this I will meditate today.

Titus 2: 11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Let us not walk in our flesh gratifying its desires. Think about this each step you take, each word you speak, each thought you think.

One more thought friends, ("Mr. Cartwright" asked me this), "If God couldn't look on Jesus as He was crushed and took our sin, what do you think Jesus feels each time we choose sin?" God the Father is displeased and hates sin, and yet, His son bore that wrath for us. Willingly. Obediently. Full of Loneliness.

Praise to the Lamb. May I live in view of this each day.