“Why can’t I come and live with you?”

The words cut deeply into my very being.

My mom, who risked her very life in giving birth to me, was now reaching out for help.

How could I tell her my shoulder, shattered by a fall on the ice, could no longer support her in safety? And neither could my timeworn other shoulder. Oh, her mind would understand, but her heart would not.

I cried in the night, as many of you have, to see a parent in a care facility when that was the last place she wanted to be.

But now, looking back to that time five years ago, I can see though a different lens. I see through the perspective of a heavenly Father, who in His divine love, wove threads of gold into a darkened situation (Rom.8:28).

I heard the testimonies of the staff who interacted with her. I saw how those people’s live were touched by her words of kindness and love. She brought meaning and value to their work. Some even clocked out and then came back in the middle of the night to sit with her, talk to her and hold her hand. She made a lasting impact on them for they had seen Jesus in her.

Amid a grievous situation an amazing transformation occurred of spirit over body, of victory over defeat. The final foe of death was vanquished and, for her, true life rose up anew!

(Written while my mother was in a care facility, shortly before her return home to her heavenly Father,)

THE DISTILLATION

Frail

Slow

Weak

Fragile in body.

But…

Full

Refined

Vitalized

Fruitful

Blossoming in spirit…

distilled into the pure essence of the aroma of God. Self melted into nothingness, with only love remaining.

“So do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.” 

                                                                  II Cor. 4:16