It has been over a year since I have written a blog post. 2022 has been an eventful year, and I have wanted to share this story with you, but have put off writing it for almost a year.
In January 2022, we celebrated my mom and her 86 years of life, as she passed from her Earthly life to her Heavenly life. It was sad to lose her, but seeing her journey through Alzheimers and other health issues for 5 years, I was happy for her that she would no longer be suffering. I knew that she was finally with my dad, after being apart from him for 35 years (he passed away in 1987), and I know that made her happy to be in Heaven with him.
She also was finally reunited with her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my dad's family, who had all left this life before her. She loved them all deeply, and I am happy that she is with them in Heaven. I know that she is perfectly healed now, and rejoicing with our Savior in Heaven. I'm sure she's excited about singing with the Angels to celebrate Jesus's birthday this Christmas.
It was a long and stressful journey caring for her when she was living in assisted living near me. Thank goodness for the wonderful doctors that we have in the Texas Medical Center, because the care that they provided her helped her so much.
Even though this book is fiction, it is one Christian man's interpretation or idea of what Heaven must be like. It was comforting to read, and as my sister said to me when recommending that I might want to read it, "if we could see the rooms in Heaven and how marvelous they look, and if we could see how beautifully perfect our loved ones are now, and how happy they are there, we would not want them back on Earth with us."
I read the entire book in one day. I could not put it down. The entire time I read Room of Marvels, I thought of my mom. There were times when I cried when I was reading it. Not necessarily because I was sad, but because I was happy for her that she was now whole and perfect again, that she was with my dad, her parents, and the rest of her family and friends. And most of all, I was happy that she was with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
On her last day of life, I was sitting with her, while she was sleeping. To us, it didn't seem like a restful sleep, but the Hospice nurse assured us that she was not in pain, and that her breathing was normal for someone who was transitioning from this life to the next. I was holding her hand and stroking the top of it gently. I leaned over to her and kissed her on the cheek and told her "It's ok to go be with Jesus now. We will be ok. We love you, but you go to Jesus, because He is waiting for you." My sister, my husband, and my aunt (Mom's youngest sister, who is only 7 years older than I am) were all there. My sister also talked to Mom and expressed tender, heartfelt words of love and thankfulness for teaching us about Jesus. My aunt also told Mom that she was there with her.
Late one afternoon, during the first week of 2022, my mother took her last breath. I was sitting with her, still holding her hand. The nurse was listening to mom's heart. I noticed that the nurse was taking a long time to listen.
I got up and stood by the door, and listened to my sister and aunt as they quietly talked. I looked back at the nurse and she stood up and told me "She's gone." My sister heard the nurse and was shocked and said in a questioning way "She's gone?!" The nurse confirmed again, that Mom had transitioned to Heaven. I truly believe that Mom passed over to Heaven while I was holding her hand, and sitting with her - and I think she did so right before the nurse got there.
I have moments when I miss my mom, but mostly I am thankful that she is now in Heaven. If you've ever lost a loved one and your grief is still there, I highly recommend that you read Room of Marvels. It will soften your grief, and help you find the joy that's meant to be when our loved ones go to Heaven.
I can't help but think of the song by MercyMe titled I Can Only Imagine. My human brain can't really comprehend what Heaven is really like, but I can only imagine how beautiful and peaceful it must be.
Here's the video of the song that goes through my mind when I think of how wonderful it must be in Heaven. I can only imagine all the rooms of marvels that my parents, family, and friends who've gone ahead of me are experiencing.
I'm so thankful for my husband, my sister, my family, and friends who helped us through the immediate days after my mom passed away. Words can't express how much it meant to have received all of the kindness and love that was given to us all. My best friend from high school and her husband, my BFF from college, sweet neighbors, cousins, lifelong friends of our family ~ so many that loved us through our grief, and continue to check in on us. They have all truly helped me and my family navigate this journey through grief by their Christ-inspired love.
So how does this connect to the theme of my blog, Happiness Catching You? Listen to the lyrics of I Can Only Imagine. Read Room of Marvels. To imagine what Heaven is like brings happiness to my soul. I know that's where my parents are, and I can only imagine and marvel about how beautiful it is, and how happy they now are. And I know that I will see them again, one day. The thought of them being in heaven together is complete and pure HAPPINESS to me! 💖💖💖
💟 I love you and miss you, Mom!
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Have a great day, and let a little happiness catch you!
