Bye For Now

It feels like I have lived an entire lifetime in the past couple of weeks. So much has happened since Mr. B and I returned from a fabulous trip to Punta Cana at the end of May. We were just settling back into our daily routine, when I received a call that my mom was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. She was in an unresponsive state.

I tried to remain calm as we threw some clothes into a suitcase and jumped into the car for a very long 4 hour trip home. My wonderful siblings kept in touch the entire time we were driving. I was kept updated on the reports from the doctors and was even put on speaker phone when the priest came in to give Mom the Annointing of the Sick. It was one of the longest trips home I have ever taken.

By the time we arrived at the hospital it was determined that Mom had suffered a deep brain bleed and would not recover. There was nothing they could do to help her. With all of us at her bedside we kept a 14-hour vigil that included many prayers, sharing of memories, words of love spoken to Mom, heartfelt tears, and a final letting go as she took her peaceful last breath.

How does one possibly say good-bye to the person who gave you life, who taught you to love, who exemplified steadfast faith and who shared the wisdom that she acquired over the many years of joys and sorrows that she lived?

This is one of the last pictures that I took of my Mom as we celebrated her 85th birthday in April.  She was so delighted to have her family with her on this special occasion - the best gift we could have ever given her.  Mom was not a woman of material wealth, but she would say she was the richest woman on earth with her family nearby.

It is only with much heartache and sorrow that I can even begin to imagine my life without my Mom.  And it is only with much faith that I realize our parting is not a final farewell, but simply a 'bye for now' as my Mom would always say whenever we ended a visit or phone conversation.  I know that she is resting in the loving arms of Jesus, reunited with my Dad, and enjoying the heavenly banquet that has been prepared for her.   

"Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God."

The Beatitudes

I love you Mom.  May the Lord bless you and keep you until we meet again.