Reflections of a Son

Reflections of a Son

As a testimony to my mother’s entire life of courage, strength and faith in Jesus, I would like to share some of her last hours with you. It was Sunday evening, April 29th, when I realized my mother was going to leave us. Although we had been praying for miracles and we were receiving what we thought were daily victories, my mother peacefully knew that she was going home to be with the Lord. Upon her request, we turned her bed to the window, so she could enjoy a beautiful sunset over her beloved ocean. She asked about all the wonderful birds flying along the horizon. By the looks on our faces, she quickly realized that these were sacred images for her personal enjoyment. At that point, the spiritual symbol of the dove became the theme for the remainder of her life.

The next morning, Monday, April 30th, my mother’s friends from her long-standing church and covenant groups began appearing throughout the day. In my “prior life,” I had considered many of these women to be rather strange (“natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him”), but I now understand, cherish and love every one of them. I watched as they prayed, sang and held hands – I witnessed a spiritual outpouring like never before.

Late that morning, we tracked down my mother’s sister, Judy, who teaches high school in the small, Central Oregon town of Burns. My mother really wanted to see her, and there was some urgency in my mom’s failing voice. When told that it would take Judy at least 10 hours to get there, some of the last words my mother said were, “I’ll hold on until then.”

Judy drove the fours hours to Boise, caught a plane to Salt Lake City, and then made the last flight into Orange County about 10:30 p.m. My mom’s husband, Bob, and I stayed at the hospital and cheered mom on as we watched her oxygen level and pulse rate drop. Bob and I were singing and encouraging mom to the “finish line.” A couple of my mom’s friends picked Judy up at the airport and whisked her to the hospital about 11:15 p.m. Judy spent 15 or 20 minutes alone with mom – it was a wonderful scene.

A number of us then joined in mom’s room and fellowshipped together. We cried, we prayed, we sang joyful songs. At about 12:30 a.m., one of mom’s girlfriends whispered to me, “It’s Ok now, everything’s Ok, your mom’s ready to let her spirit go, but she needs to hear it from you.” I went to the head of my mother’s bed, held her hand, and leaned close. I had the opportunity to say everything a son wishes he could tell his mom – every final “I love you”, every final “thank you”. Then I softly whispered, “Everything here is done. It’s OK to let your spirit go now.”

Within seconds, she peacefully started to slow down her breathing -- 5 seconds between breaths, 10 seconds between breaths, 20 seconds, 30 seconds… And then, with a slight smile on her face, she drifted away and entered the loving arms of Jesus. He was so merciful, he was so faithful – there was no pain, only peace. We grieved, but we also embraced the joy of mom entering into eternity with our Lord. Just at the moment that my mom’s spirit departed, we could almost hear Jesus say, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”

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What a precious and glorious memory for all of us. You couldn’t have been in that hospital room and not left a believer…

… A believer in the presence, power, love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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