To My Mother–Happy Anniversary

Two years ago today my sweet mother passed away. The day after her death, I wrote a blog that many of you really seemed to identify with. Today, I share it again in her honor and for your encouragement. Feel free to share.

I Wonder What My Mother is Doing Today

My mother woke up in heaven today. I say “today,” because even though she died yesterday, there is no yesterday or tomorrow in Heaven. Only today—right here, right now. A glorious present tense that goes on forever. No time, no clock, no calendars. Just now.

So today, my Mom woke up in Heaven. I’ve been wondering all day what she’s doing. You know, it’s like when a friend or family member goes to a great concert or on a cool vacation or gets to meet someone famous, and you really wish you could be a fly on the wall and just see what’s going on. That’s how I feel. I’m dying to know what she’s up to.

My Mom hadn’t walked by herself in years. She needed a walker and/or the help of others. In reality, most of her recent life had been spent in a bed. But not today. Today, however you get around in heaven (run, fly, float?), she’s getting around with no assistance. Probably pretty cool for her.

My Mom hadn’t eaten in months. Her last real meal was Thanksgiving, and that was minimal. The only nourishment she was getting was from a feeding tube. But today? Who knows? There’s no hunger in heaven, so she’s obviously full. I’m just not sure what’s she’s full of. (Yes, she did constantly tell me what I was full of, but that’s another matter). Let’s just say that she’s more than satisfied. She’s full and content in a Heaven kind of way.

My Mom hadn’t been out of her room much at all in the last two years. But for the occasional family event or holiday meal, she never got out. She lived in her bed, and her bed was in a room the size of a small hospital room. That was her existence. But not today. Today, she see’s the world from a viewpoint that none of us can, even with the greatest GPS and satellite technology. She doesn’t just know how the universe and earth came into being, she knows when. She’s met the architect and builder. She knows stuff about the universe that we don’t, because she’s seeing it firsthand right now. That’s pretty high cotton for a woman who never got past using a typewriter.

And today, my Mom is home. Before the last two years, my Mom and Dad lived the previous 47 years in a beautiful home in West Austin on a street called Woodmont. The Woodmont home was such a part of our family we simply referred to it was Woodmont. A few weeks ago, Mom started telling us that she wanted to go home, that she wanted to go back to Woodmont. So two nights ago, when I was reading the Bible to her before she died, I read from John 14:1. It’s a great passage about Heaven and the homes Jesus prepares for us there. He said, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places (some translations say mansions), and I go to prepare a place for you.”  As I was reading that to Mom, I got inspired and changed it just a bit. I read, “In my Father’s house are many Woodmonts, and I go to prepare one of those Woodmonts just for you.” My sisters and I laughed, but I think my Mom got it.

I’m not sure what my mother is doing in today Heaven. I guess I won’t know until I go there and find out myself. But here’s what I do know, whatever she’s doing, she’s home. That’s what Heaven is. Home.