Reflection of Miracles on Mother’s Day

The story that is on my heart to share starts on December 31, 2016 and runs into the first week of January 2017, eight days that forever changed my life – in my relationship with my Mom, as I knew it, and in my walk with God, increasing my faith that He sees and cares about every detail of my life, and in His ability to still perform miracles today!

Saturday morning, December 31st, as soon as my eyes opened, my thought was “Go see your Mom!”.  (That was the 1st miracle from the Lord, as my brain usually needs a cup of coffee to get going.  I didn’t even know what day it was yet!  I knew this thought was not my own doing.)

My oldest daughter, Mandy, was getting married on Saturday, so it would have to be a quick trip.  We still had so many wedding preparations to finish, but I instantly knew in my heart, I had to see Mom before the wedding.

I shared the desire to go visit my Mom with Don, my husband.  Don is a Pastor, so he agreed that as soon as the Sunday morning Worship Service ended the following day, we would make the 5 hour drive home to South Carolina.  

Mom had desperately wanted to attend Zach and Mandy’s wedding.  We had all hoped and prayed that she would be able to make it.  Only a few weeks earlier, she picked a beautiful lavender suit for her to wear to the wedding.  My sister had taken it for alterations and it was hanging in Mom’s room, ready for her to wear.  But, as she struggled to sit at the breakfast table with Dad that Saturday morning (with the wedding only being one week away), we all knew the long trip would not be possible. So, to be able to visit her, even for just a day, would do my heart good. 

As I entered Dad and Mom’s home that next evening, I was thankful we had come.  Mom had declined in the last 24 hours and needed help just to make it out of bed.  I was also thankful that my youngest daughter, Harlie, had traveled with us and was able to visit Mom, too.  (Being New Year’s Day, she had Monday off of work, so she decided to jump in our car at the last minute. God’s perfect timing, a day off of work allowing her to go – another miracle of God).

We spent a couple hours visiting, and then my daughter, Harlie, went to stay the night with my sister, Valerie, and niece, Grace (who lived close by).  Don and I stayed at Dad and Mom’s house.  I pulled up a recliner next to Mom’s bedside, so I could lay right beside her.  She asked me to read Scripture, we sang some hymns and praise songs, and I just held her hand.  At some point, we both drifted off to sleep, listening to hymns on my cell phone.  Dad had crawled onto the other side of the bed, tucked the blanket around Mom, put his arm around her, and also closed his eyes to sleep.  Shortly after 3am, I woke to Dad’s voice “Linda, Linda, honey wake up. I think Momma has gone to be with Jesus!”  I jumped from my chair, trying to figure out where I was and what was happening!  It couldn’t be true!  The next couple hours were a bit of a blur – it was true.  As I later watched them carry her out of their home, I stood in disbelief.  I couldn’t quite process everything, although one thing was for sure – Thank You, God, for Your amazing Grace and Your Holy Spirit that guided us to be at my parents’ home for this very specific time.  A time that none of us could have guessed or imagined, only the Lord knew.  (Another overwhelming miracle that brings me to my knees in tears, humility, and honor to Him!).

I knew I had to call my oldest daughter Mandy, who was back in Georgia.  Mandy was working the night shift at the hospital and I was concerned about her being alone.  How would I break the news to her?  She would be so heartbroken.  My husband decided to call her fiancé, Zach, to see if he could physically meet up with Mandy and have her call us.  Zach contacted Mandy, only to find out that they were sending her home from work early, because it was so slow at the hospital that night (that had never happened before – another miracle of God!).  Zach asked Mandy to come by his place on her way home.  Once she was there, we were able to share with her about Grandma’s passing to her permanent Heavenly home.  We were, once again, thankful for the way that God prepared Mandy for this moment, and that He allowed her future husband to be by her side when she received the news.  Zach and Mandy gathered some clothes and hit the road to join us in South Carolina.

One of the biggest moments that stands out to me, is something I found out weeks later.  My future son-in-law, Zach, sat in my parents’ living room Monday afternoon.  He remained very quiet during those days… little did I know all that he was thinking, processing, and observing.  He later told us that he wondered to himself about the wedding in the midst of it all.  What they would need to do, as it would obviously be cancelled.  He had no question in his mind that it would not be happening that Saturday.

Funny thing is, as for my Dad, myself, and my sister, there was no question in our minds that the wedding would still go as planned.  The only question was, would Dad ride back to Georgia with me and Don or come a day later with my sister?

Over the course of the next couple days, the service arrangements were made, church family and friends flooded us with love, visits, prayers, meals, clothes were purchased (since Don, Harlie, and I had planned to return home Monday evening and barely had anything with us), and some of our sweet family flew in from Michigan and even Canada!  On top of that, my loving church family of “sisters” in Georgia, took our wedding check-list and finished all the preparations still needed for Zach and Mandy’s wedding that Saturday.  (All of these things were absolute miracles of God!  He used divine connections in our lives to step in where we were physically and emotionally unable).

Months later, and after hearing some of Zach’s observations while inside our family’s home during some of the most difficult, heartbreaking days of our lives, it made me ask myself some questions…

How did we not collapse from complete exhaustion?

How was there still joy and laughter in a home that was in the midst of such heartbreak?

How did we find suits and dresses for Mom’s celebration service to fit our whole clan in less than 24 hours?

Why did we never even give one second’s thought to canceling the wedding?

How did my Dad not only attend his granddaughter’s wedding, but walk her down the aisle, and share a dance with her at the reception?

In Philippians 4:7, it speaks of “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding”. 

Isaiah 41:10 says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In Matthew 6:28-30, it tells us to look at how the Lord clothes the beautiful flowers and grass of the field, and how much more He will clothe us!

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

As I look back on January 2nd and the weeks that followed…those are the only words I have to explain what carried us – “the Peace of God”, His “righteous right Hand”, His faithfulness, His material provisions…. He sees our every need and He hears our every cry!

I can’t explain it, I can’t understand it, I just know I experienced it, and it is miraculous and very real! 

As I viewed Mom in her beautiful lavender suit, prepared perfectly for her, the tears fell down my face.  We thought it had been set out for her granddaughter’s wedding, however, it was selected for a much greater day, the day she would meet her Creator and Savior.  What a miracle, that God even arranged this detail for us. Details that only God knew would need to be done. Joy flooded my heart in that moment of sadness, because it reminded me of just how much the Lord loves us and how He does care about every detail of our lives!  

One last thought that was the “icing on the cake” kind-of miracle to me. 

I know material possessions will pass away, although I read in the Old Testament where stone pillars were erected as physical (visual) reminders of God’s faithfulness. 

Rewind a few months back, I had been struggling to think of the perfect wedding gift to give my daughter, Mandy.  I wanted it to be something special, something sentimental.  As I opened my jewelry box, my eyes caught my 2 favorite rings – a beautiful aquamarine that my parents gave me for my High School graduation, and the other was a beautiful (now antique) ruby ring, that my grandparents gave my Mom for her High School graduation.  I held them in my hands, smiling at the treasures that reminded me of so many beautiful memories in my life. I took them to the jewelers to be cleaned and adjusted, and displayed them in two separate jewelry boxes.  My aquamarine ring for my youngest daughter, Harlie (the Matron of Honor), and my Mom’s ruby ring for my oldest daughter, Mandy (the Bride).  It was the perfect gift for both of them.  Little did I realize just how perfect it would be, BUT God knew!

Not only a gift, that was already so special to my heart, but now also a “stone pillar” – a physical stone that would also be a reminder of a miraculous God! A visual reminder of His faithfulness, love, and care for every detail of our lives!  

This world is not always easy.  There are days of sadness and tears, days of joy and laughter, but one thing remains – God is faithful!  He is with me and He will never leave or forsake me!  He is my Lord and Savior, and He will uphold me with His Righteous Right Hand!

Do you know Him?  I truly hope you are not trying to walk this life alone!  He loves you and cares about every detail of your life!  And He still performs miracles!   Ask Him to come into your heart, forgive your sins, and to be your Savior too!  You will NEVER regret it!

Psalm 105:4 – Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.

Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

By His Grace ~ Linda