Rejoicing in the Promise

My mom passed away in 2013. It all happened so suddenly.

I was the women’s ministries leader at my church and was conducting the Sabbath-day senior citizen program entitled “Time on My Hands.” The beautiful bulletin had a picture of aged hands on the front. It was a beautiful program.

I had asked my mom to do the children’s story. She did a phenomenal job. She finished the story and sat down next to me, placing her head on my shoulder, and said, “My head is hurting.” “Mom, just rest,” I replied. After church, we felt she needed to go to the hospital. Little did I know, my mom was having a major stroke.

I was devastated. I had so many plans in the works for women’s ministries: seminars, a women’s retreat just for our ladies, new-mother nurturing classes, volunteering to give moms a night out each month with free babysitting service, and divorce and bereavement counseling. I was planning a workshop to teach teens how to cook, sew, and knit and provide mentors for them to have a haven to discuss anything. I was on a roll with wonderful spirit-filled plans for my ladies, and then suddenly, my life was in tatters. My sweet mom —my earthly rock, friend, and confidant— was gone in what seemed like an instant. I would no longer hear her voice whisper, “I love you, darling daughter.” I was numb for months and eventually gave up my position.

Looking back, I see God’s divine handling of this situation.

He understood my pain —His only begotten Son had suffered a cruel, unjust, and painful death just for me, for mom, and for each of us.

On this side of life, I will never fully understand how my Father could give up His Son to die on the cross, but I do know it was His love for me that compelled Him to make such a sacrifice. My mom loved me, but no one has loved me more than Jesus.

I will continue to rejoice in His promises.

Zandra LaMar Griffin-Willingham