Her ending was one of Light. not of the Circumstances of her body - but of the people she touched through her ministry. The words of Jesus ring through my head...
'It will not be taken away from her.'
To set this up - let's look at a well known passage from the Bible - a passage that describes sisters (in flesh and in Christ) so well...
Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
This is a story where one sister is working, the other is sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha - the worker - doesn't think the other sister, Mary, is doing enough to 'help' and she tattles on her. Jesus brings back a truth we all need to remember - Mary was concerned about the right thing - sitting at the feet of Jesus.
You see, mom was a bit of both. She had the gift of serving and was typically the one doing the preparation in the kitchen, behind the scenes. However, Mom sat at the feet of Jesus and learned from him.
I watched her read her Bible.
I watched her teach Sunday School.
I watched her go out of her way to meet the needs of people who had less.
I read her journals where she prayed for me to have a child.
I saw her wrestle with her circumstances and go to God for the answer.
I saw her being a light to the very special CNAs and nurses that took care of her.
At the end, mom could no longer serve with her hands and feet - as Martha served. She couldn't walk or cook.
But - I saw her serve with that which was not taken from her. She gave out Jesus. She loved. She listened. She prayed. She taught the word of God until two days before she died. Her time that was spent at Jesus' feet was not taken from her. It was multiplied. As His word says in Isaiah 55:11 'So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it..'
So in honor of my mother - I want to make a challenge.Sit at the master's feet. Read the word of God. Listen, dwell, let it sink in. Get to know Him. Live for Him.
We don't have much time in this life - so we, with urgency, should know and share this precious savior with everyone. He Is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except through Him (John 14:6)
He was worth every step mom took with him. He was worth ever moment she spent with Him when she could no longer take steps.
He is worth it, and other lives were blessed because she sat at his feet.
And it was not taken away from her.
