I Want to Go Home

...But Ruth clung to her. "Don't urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried ( Ruth 1: 16, 17)

I will never forget the morning of Saturday, February 10, 2007. The sun was just beginning to come up and would soon be shining brightly into the room and over the bed where my mother lay quietly in death. It seemed ironic that on a day of sadness the sun would be shining so brightly in the winter sky. But was it really a day of sadness?

Life here on earth is a gift. God did not create us to die. That is why death hurts so much for those of us left behind. He created us to live forever on the beautiful earth he had made. He gave us a will of our own with the ability to make our own choices. Eve's choice to eat the fruit offered to her by the devil, changed life for her and for all humans. From this time forward all people would die someday, because of the devastating effects of sin on our bodies. Because God loves us he fixed things for us by sending his own Son, Jesus to die in our place. But Jesus didn't stay dead. He conquered death and its hold on us when he rose on Easter morning.

I had the last verbal conversation with my mother on the evening of February 2, 2007. I had been visiting with her at the hospital for a couple of hours. Several times during our visit, she had said things that didn't quite make sense and it had made me a little concerned. As I prepared to leave her I gave her a kiss and told her I loved her. I started to leave and she said to me, I want to go home. Unsure of what she meant I said, Do you want to go home with me mom? She said,  Yes, I guess so. I then asked her Do you want to go home to heaven? She answered Yes with no doubt or hesitation in her voice. Eight days later on February 10th God granted her wish and took her home.

I wanted to cling to her like Ruth had clung to her mother-in-law Naomi, but I knew I couldn't. At one point it was suggested she have a feeding tube and she fiercely shook her head "NO" at the idea. In my heart I was thinking, yes give her a tube; I'll take care of her. I just can't let her die! That was the moment I realized that God was taking her and nothing I did would change it. I had to give in and let her go.

In May of 2000, I moved my mother home to Michigan from Arizona. In February of 2007 she moved "home" once more and will never have to move again. I guess one might say it is bitter sweet. I miss her, but I am happy for her. She is walking streets of gold and standing around the throne of God singing with the angels. She will never be sick or in pain again.

Praise God for His promise in Jesus!

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband...There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.(Revelation 21: 2,4)

This devotion is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Marian Thompson (1924-2007).
                                                                                 
 By Kristeen - To God be the Glory!