Mother’s Day will be quite unusual for me this year. You see, my Mother died around the time of this last Thanksgiving. So, for the first time in my life I will not be sending her a card and perhaps some flowers or a gift. There will not even be the usual phone call to her in South Dakota. I’ll be missing her on this Mother’s Day!

I was very blessed to have a mother who did not work outside the home. She was there just about every day when I was a small boy getting into mischief and later on when I came home from school. She tore the back seat of the car apart to get me out which I got locked in the trunk. She drove me to the doctor when I broke my wrist. She was filled with panic when my brother, my cousin and I walked four miles home from a church activity without telling anyone. She glowed with pride at my accomplishments and cried with me over my disappointments. She welcomed my new bride into our family, cherished each grandchild as they came along and the great-children after them. Do I have wonderful memories? Yes, thousands. Do I miss her? Yes!

My mother would understand, however, when I state positively that if I had the power to bring her back, that I wouldn’t. Why not? Partly because at the end she was suffering from the last stages of Parkinson’s disease. Her body was bent over, and for the past few years she was confined to a wheelchair. She had difficulty eating and there were only rare smiles or displays of emotion. The dementia associated with this disease had slowly — but ever so surely — faded her memories and taken her mental capabilities. Yes, Parkinson’s had a horrendous effect upon her, and it was death which brought an end to her struggles. For that, we who loved her were grateful.

The real reason I would not bring her back, however, is because through death I know she entered into a place far more wondrous than even this earth. She entered on Nov. 17, 2008, into the visible and radiant presence of our God. This was an event which she as a Christian had been waiting and longing for during her entire life. And at that moment it became a reality! Her strong Christian faith in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as her complete savior from sin brought forth its results: salvation. In the presence of her savior, she was given the “crown of righteousness” and the heavenly body God had designed for her. How could I possibly want to undo all of this by bringing her back here?

In addition to that, when she took her last breath, we knew within moments she would have a joyous reunion with her husband — my Father — who left us two years ago in May. Also she would again see her parents, her sister, Geraldine, who died in childhood and so many others she loved. Rob her of all this by calling her back? No!

Isn’t it strange? I thank God for my Mother’s life. And I thank God for my Mother’s death. Both of these facts are true. How true the words of the Bible are, which state: “The day of death is better than the day of birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) This is true, however, only for true Christians. The Bible also said, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12)

It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we can rejoice even over our loved ones death. Without Jesus, death robs of life. Through Jesus, death has no hold on us and we slip right through its grasp into eternal life! I truly thank God for the victory that my Mother has — through the gift of faith that God gave her! “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 15:57)

So, on this Mother’s Day, Mom, I miss you! Thanks for everything you did for me. Thank you for the gift of life which came to me through you! And especially, I thank you for the gift of eternal life which I have by the faith you passed on to me.

Your loving son,

Dennis