I Want To See Jesus – And My Mom
“Yet You brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust You at my mother’s breast.” – Psalm 22:9
It is November 30th, 2020 and I am trying to compose myself and put some thoughts on paper about what the last 24 hours have brought to me and my family. My mother went to be with the Lord early yesterday afternoon and, as a consequence, my mind has been racing with thoughts of her life and how I was impacted by all she did for my siblings and me … and many others.
My mother, JoAnne Seay, was a saint if there ever was one. She spent 90 years, 5 months and 26 days on this earth. She was a gift from God to my father before he passed at age 87 (they were married for 62 years) and to the four children they bore together. When you add in all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and fellow church members in countless localities (my father was a preacher and we moved a lot), she positively impacted more lives in a profound way than most people ever will.
She became a Christian at age 12 and then 5 years later helped bring my father to Christ. She influenced her parents to get back into church. She raised my 2 brothers and sister and myself to know God and to love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - and she displayed, in very meaningful ways, the Spirit of God in her life. She spent most of her church life teaching Ladies Bible Classes as well as teaching infants and cradle-roll classes, writing curriculum for both. She was recognized for her work with small children by having her curriculum published and being invited to teach at Christian Teacher Workshops across the country. She also worked frequently as the church secretary wherever we lived. And, somehow, amidst all of that, she found time to raise her children to know and trust the Lord, take care of household chores, and to make a loving and cohesive home for a family of strong-willed, ego-driven, and dysfunctional individuals. She was the glue that held us all together. What I remember most is that when the family unit did not get along (and there were those times – too many) and we were disintegrating before her eyes, she would break down and cry, speaking through her tears, “this is not how we are to be as a family, so stop it!!”. That would usually be enough to abate the acrimony – at least in volume – and we would return to civility.
During his later years in life, my father would often question how well he had been as a father (at least in private conversations with me); my mother had no such questions. Being a mother was her passion and she did it well. She loved her family with all her heart - and it showed in a myriad of big and little things she constantly did for the family. Everything was about the family to her. And that places her among the great saints who will find heaven as their home.
When I get to heaven – if I get to heaven – my goal is to see Jesus; to talk with Him and thank Him for the Christian home I was blessed to grow up in. But I want Jesus to reunite me with my mother, who no doubt will be close by, so that we can all praise God together as one BIG family. That is what I desire most. And I know that would make my mother especially happy.
“Yet You brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust You at my mother’s breast.” – Psalm 22:9
It is November 30th, 2020 and I am trying to compose myself and put some thoughts on paper about what the last 24 hours have brought to me and my family. My mother went to be with the Lord early yesterday afternoon and, as a consequence, my mind has been racing with thoughts of her life and how I was impacted by all she did for my siblings and me … and many others.
My mother, JoAnne Seay, was a saint if there ever was one. She spent 90 years, 5 months and 26 days on this earth. She was a gift from God to my father before he passed at age 87 (they were married for 62 years) and to the four children they bore together. When you add in all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and fellow church members in countless localities (my father was a preacher and we moved a lot), she positively impacted more lives in a profound way than most people ever will.
She became a Christian at age 12 and then 5 years later helped bring my father to Christ. She influenced her parents to get back into church. She raised my 2 brothers and sister and myself to know God and to love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - and she displayed, in very meaningful ways, the Spirit of God in her life. She spent most of her church life teaching Ladies Bible Classes as well as teaching infants and cradle-roll classes, writing curriculum for both. She was recognized for her work with small children by having her curriculum published and being invited to teach at Christian Teacher Workshops across the country. She also worked frequently as the church secretary wherever we lived. And, somehow, amidst all of that, she found time to raise her children to know and trust the Lord, take care of household chores, and to make a loving and cohesive home for a family of strong-willed, ego-driven, and dysfunctional individuals. She was the glue that held us all together. What I remember most is that when the family unit did not get along (and there were those times – too many) and we were disintegrating before her eyes, she would break down and cry, speaking through her tears, “this is not how we are to be as a family, so stop it!!”. That would usually be enough to abate the acrimony – at least in volume – and we would return to civility.
During his later years in life, my father would often question how well he had been as a father (at least in private conversations with me); my mother had no such questions. Being a mother was her passion and she did it well. She loved her family with all her heart - and it showed in a myriad of big and little things she constantly did for the family. Everything was about the family to her. And that places her among the great saints who will find heaven as their home.
When I get to heaven – if I get to heaven – my goal is to see Jesus; to talk with Him and thank Him for the Christian home I was blessed to grow up in. But I want Jesus to reunite me with my mother, who no doubt will be close by, so that we can all praise God together as one BIG family. That is what I desire most. And I know that would make my mother especially happy.
Amazing Grace
I Can Only Imagine
Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)
In The Sweet By And By
I Come To The Garden Alone
Abide With Me