Heaven Sent Sentiments

my mom, Sue

Born Again. Those two words give insight to the complete identity of my mother, Sue. She proudly wore a gold necklace with a charm bearing those words, together with a gold cross, for as long as I can remember. They were a testament to her, and the world, of Who she belonged to–Jesus Christ.

***

Years and years ago, I can remember an off-handed comment a clerk made while we were paying for items in the check out line at a store. The gentlemen helping us must have been about sixteen years old. Upon noticing my mom’s necklace, their conversation began like this:

Clerk: “Born again, huh? What’cha do, die?”

Mom: “Yes, as a matter of fact I did. I died to my old self and now I am made new in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”

What I remember most about that conversation is not just what was said, but the matter to which my mother explained her relationship with Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit: love, patience, kindness, joy, self-control, faithfulness, etc. She in no way gave into the negative connotations that were underlying the manner in which the conversation began. Only God knows the eternal details of the conversation that day, but I believe seeds were planted that day–in me as well as him.

That is just one example of many in the daily way my mom lived her life in a relationship with Jesus. Her born again life.

***

On November 7, 1990, my mom met her Savior face-to-face and that born again gold necklace that she wore faithfully for years was removed for the last time from her neck and given to me.

I treasured her necklace and wore it several times throughout the years. But it wasn’t her, and I discovered that if I really wanted to feel close to my mom it was through the Word of God, and my relationship with Him that I felt her the strongest.

The reasoning is very simple: her faith in God was the most important thing that she shared with me every day of her life.

Her death from this world didn’t change who she was, the removal of her necklace didn’t change who she was, and her physical presence in my life didn’t change who she was because: she is a child of God, her death marks the beginning, not the end. In the words of Billy Graham:

“One day you’ll hear that Billy Graham has died. Don’t you believe it. On that day I’ll be more alive than ever before! I’ve just changed addresses.”

And that is what I choose to believe about my mother today, the day she went home to heaven. She is more alive in heaven than she ever was here on earth! I imagine her reunited with all of her loved ones and meeting all the sister’s and brother’s that had gone on before. Rejoicing and praising the Lord, just one heartbeat away from me. Amen!!

If you spend any length of time with me you know two things: I love Jesus and I speak about my mom often, and all the others that have gone to heaven: my Grandma and Grandpa Corbin, Aunt Irene, Grandma Marji, Julius Marcus, Aunt June, my father in law Donnie, our good friend David Gideons, among several others.

I continue to share the memories and love of each one because they had (and continue to have) such an impact in my life. They are not here on this earth, but I will see them again.

I would like to close this with a poem, “When mom was called home,”  that my older sister Melanie wrote at 2:30 in the morning on August 22, 1991–written about nine months after our mother died. If my memory serves me correctly, she just woke up in the middle of the night and wrote it out.

The tears I cry,

Are not in vain,

The tears I cry,

Are tears of pain.

The day I died,

my soul cried out,

I asked my God,

what’s this all about.

I heard God say,

In a quiet voice,

Don’t cry my child,

Let your heart rejoice.

The pain you had,

Is no longer there,

Come into my arms,

Because I care.

For it is my will,

and you shall see,

That your family will have,

Both you and me.

Your life on earth,

Filled the world with love,

Because I once sent you,

from heaven above.

You touched the world,

and showed you cared,

You leaned on me,

and I was there.

I gave you support,

you gave me your mind,

I made you a person,

so special and kind.

You asked me into your heart,

And I came in,

I forgave you for,

Your life of sin.

I promised I would never,

Leave your side,

And you promised me,

my love you would always abide.

I am now calling,

you home my dear,

I hope I have made,

The answer clear.

Thank you mom, for sharing Jesus with me. With God and His faithfulness everyday, I continue to share the Good News of Jesus everyday. See you again some day. Love you.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3: 3

All the glory to God,

Shanon

Works Cited:

Image of “Born Again” by mean to be a Christian. trumpetcalling.org. web. 7 November 2019. https://trumpet-call.org/2018/08/24/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-born-again-christian/

“10 brillant things Billy Graham said about heaven.” Premier Christianity. 22 February 2018. Web. 7 November 2019. premierchristianity.com

Wallace, Melanie. “When mom was called home.” 22 August 1991. Print. 7 November 2019.