Only God can fix a broken heart.

I apologize to you my friends as I've been a way the past few weeks partly because of my work and school schedule.   But also because my family and I had to travel back to Chicago unexpectedly.   Just over a week ago our beloved mom passed away.   It was quite sudden and very emotionally wrenching for me, my brothers and sisters and all of our families. You see it was just a short fifteen months ago that Dad had gone to be with the Lord also quite suddenly and very unexpectedly.  It was his passing that enabled God to lay on my heart the urgency to create this blog as a vessel of ministry and encouragement to others in times of great need and sadness.  I sincerely hope it has been that to all of you who so generously allow me to share with you His great words of encouragement and hope.  My mom, like my dad was one of my heroes.  Let me enlighten you a bit about her so you'll better understand.   She was married at nineteen to dad and almost immediately as was the custom in those days of the 50's set about being the quintessential Donna Reed.  For my younger readers check TV history trivia for this reference.  Anyways, she wore many hats including mother ( to 5 kids in 9 years), housewife, full time cook, launderer, shopper, counselor, nurturer and cheerleader.  She was also equally adept at giving out hugs as she was at making sure we towed the line.   She ran a tight ship so to speak and always had dinner ready for dad when he got home from work. She was primarily a stay at home mom until she was almost forty and she accomplished somehow getting us to and from from all of our various activities with school, sports and other events without ever driving.  You see my mom didn't even drive until she was in her thirties. To this day it's still a mystery how she got so many things done and an amazing accomplishment considering kids today need a ride to the bathroom.  After effectively raising us until we were old enough to know better and were mostly self sufficient, she then took a job as a waitress and went back to school.  She graduated from Harper College with a degree in paralegal studies.  Long story short she went on to a very successful career later in her life first with Pettibone Company, then Sprint.
   You see my mother was the quintessential work hard, don't ever quit and you can make something of yourself person no matter what other obstacles or obligations you had to work around or overcome.  She was driven, organized, smart and quick to adapt to any situation.  She had to be after raising the five of us!  It seemed there was nothing mom didn't try to tackle and succeed at.  She was fearless or so it seemed.   On the outside mother was always in charge and showed little nervousness or trepidation.  But when dad passed, it turned out there were a few chinks in her armor.  Dad was her everything.  I mean the sun rose and set on my dad every day of their marriage for 54 years.  They were quite unique and wonderful individuals but were a well oiled machine together.   When dad went, part of mom went too.   This past fifteen months were quite difficult for her.  Her life partner was taken home before she wanted him to go and that was very difficult for her to adjust to.  It took it's toll physically, mentally and spiritually.  Our entire family was helpless to ease her grieving and coping became a daily chore almost to big a storm to weather.  There were times she was her old self but many days she was palpably withdrawn and heartsick.   So when she stepped out the elevator to walk towards her condo Sunday August 12th, God mercifully called her name.  She went home to be with dad, her family and the Lord.  Praise God for that!   Our hearts are crushed at losing both mom and dad so quickly and so close to each other.   We have had more than most families can bear this past year.  But by God's grace we are still here and more unified and stronger than ever.  God's plan is perfect even when we can't see it that way at first.  He knew mom's heart was irretrievably broken and He knew that there was but one way to fix it.   Knowing my mom, she beat the angels back to heaven to see everybody too and our world is a sadder and certainly less entertaining place without Frank and Barb, but heaven just got more exciting and fun!  I await the glorious reunion with them someday where there will be no more tears and loss just joy and fellowship forever.  That's why I love Jesus so much.  He has our most precious desires and hopes perfectly placed in His heart and hands for us.  It is His plan and will work for His glory.  This life is short and we are guaranteed no tomorrows.   So love your mom and dad fully like we did.  Say the important words, spend time with them, mend any broken fences for time waits for no man.   Don't have any unfinished business including ministering to them if needed.   Assure them of their place in the great reunion.  It will ease your pain in times of loss such as this and will enable you to have your heart at ease.  May God keep you and bless you mightily!

John 11:23-26

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”