It was 25 years ago when I was so excited and surprised when my husband travelled home unexpectedly at lunch time, I thought to celebrate my birthday on April 7th, but to my dismay it was to bring the sad news that my mother had suffered a stroke after surgery! Although the family advised there was no immediate need for me to travel home to Belfast. We pulled out my passport just in case it was needed, to find it was out of date. We rushed into New York City to the British Embassy to have it renewed. While in the Embassy we got the call we didn’t want to hear that I should return to Belfast immediately.

Almost in a trance we packed my suitcase ready to leave on the next available flight the following day but unfortunately early in the morning John took the phone call from my brother that my mother had passed away. Sadly I was traveling home to a funeral instead of a chance to say “Goodbye” to her.

As I arrived at Heathrow in the early hours of the morning I met my younger sister Heather who had also just arrived at Heathrow on a flight from Hong Kong. Since she had been on a longer flight she was unaware of my mother’s passing. Needless to say it was a sad reunion.

John and I had planned a trip home in July that year to celebrate our 25th anniversary which we had hoped would be a healing within the family as my father had not approved of my marriage to an Englishman and didn’t allow my mother or any of my siblings to attend. My mother was so excited to be planning this 25th. anniversary event as she couldn’t participate in my wedding in 1964. Also the celebration would be the first time for a long time since my mother had all her children home together. It was such a struggle to understand why God could not have allowed her that pleasure before taking her home. 

I have to admit, that even though I was a believer, it was through many tears and heart wrenching cries to God for answers, that through His grace alone I could be at peace and accept that His ways are higher than ours. Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

When we can’t see His Hand and we can’t understand the “whys” we know we can rely on the wisdom of His sovereignty, and trust His heart because He loved us even when we were far from Him and didn’t want to know Him.

Being the eldest of eleven siblings my mother not only left us a spiritual legacy but a large biological legacy with a part of herself in each of us. The below photo was taken the day of her funeral as we mourned our loss but celebrated her life and home going, and is one of the only photos we have of all of us. We remember her dearly as we see her in different ways in each of us, both physically and in our various talents and personalities. When we lose our parents I believe spending time with our siblings becomes more precious as we see their memories still alive in each of us. I was so blessed to have so many siblings. God has blessed the fruit of my mother’s womb as most of us are serving God and we are praying for the few that are still outside the Kingdom. Never underestimate the power of a praying mother.

Now here we are 25 years later as John and I celebrate our 50th. anniversary, still missing her being part of our lives, but anticipating that grand reunion and believing the circle will be unbroken as all her children turn to the faith of our godly mother.

In the photo in the back row left to right is Lucinda, Terry, Tommy and Paul.

In the middle row left to right is Heather, our Dad, Charleen, myself and Billy.

Front row left to right is Robert, Drew and Ian. 

CHALLENGE: Take time today to appreciate your mother and thank God for the life she gave you.