The Best Gift

A warning that it is long. I posted this for my own heart, missing my mom this Mother’s Day. My mother had passed away on December 2000 after having a massive stroke. This was an excerpt from what I had written about her back in September 10, 2001. Her life’s story I had shared with my then, alive father and my other 5 siblings and close friends…My mother did accept the Lord into her heart before passing away.

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac"

“Maha…..Maha…O-oooo…O-oooo….” Those were the last words that came out of my mother’s mouth on December 28, 2000. They might not mean anything to someone else, but because I knew my mother well, I knew that she was trying to fight her aphasia so she could utter the words “I love you and yes…yes….” those words spoken in our native dialect.

That was a desperate moment for her, trying to cling to this valuable life that she had known for 69 years. That was a moment when I was also trying to help her win the tug-o’-war, of life against death, as we conversed over the phone. No matter how many worlds apart, we could try. That was a moment when all of the memories we shared together which took many years to be created, flashed back in a matter of only a few, precious remaining seconds. I had a feeling at that time that it was a memory with my mother that was about to end.

My vision was blurry, blinded by the tears that constantly flowed down my cheeks, as I reassured my mother of the possible strength she could still have. At the same time, I was praying and asking God to make her well: for me, for my brothers, for our families, but especially for my dearest father, who loved her so much. Being a Catholic with ardent passion for praising God daily, my mother’s faith was what I needed to combine with mine, so I could ask for a miracle that only God would approve of.

I love to write but at that time, I was at a profound loss for words as I talked [for an imminent last moment] with my mother, whose physical and emotional pain I couldn’t and wouldn’t imagine. I kept telling her “we love you very much”, like a broken record as my voice tried to be in a normal range, despite the choking sensation I had and as I tried to make the big lump in my throat disappear. I spoke about the un-said “thank you’s” that were long overdue. The thank you’s for all the sacrifices she had done to give us, her children, all the good things in life: education, love, faith in God and just for being an understanding, always forgiving and accepting mother to us.

Suddenly, the rest of her words became more incomprehensible as the aphasia affected her more. It must have taken so much strength out of her to convey all of her thoughts and feelings but at the same time, she must be frustrated that nothing came out right from her effort to communicate with me. But that period of misunderstanding was the most understood one -  a feeling of love that was mutually shared, even without words, we both felt that. As mother and daughter, that was the best sharing we had in this lifetime. We. Just. Knew.

God, how I prayed…”Dear God, please take away the pain that my mother is feeling. Give her more strength and courage as she tries to fight this stroke that suddenly hit her. The stroke that came like a thief in the night--without warning! The stroke that robs her of her joyous smiles and echoing laugher. The stroke that caused a slurred speech and made her “I love you’s” incomprehensible. She was a very special gift You gave to our family. If living more for her would mean physical suffering and pain, then, give us the courage instead, to have the readiness and acceptance to let her go. To accept her imminent return to You. Even if it would mean losing the best gift given to us, whose lots of lives she touched throughout her lifetime. Dear God, please give her peace and turn our trial for Your glory.”

The best gift in life doesn’t have to be a dream vacation, lots of money, living the good life, and other material things our mortal souls crave for. The best gift in life is love - - the kind that my mother shared and taught us. The best gift was learning to love and to sacrifice for someone you love, being there during the ups and downs of life. It was a pretty gift wrapped with a golden bow. When we, her children, her husband, other loved ones and friends opened that gift, it was full of memories, of triumphs and losses, of laughter and tears, of joys and sorrows, of broken hearts and mended wounds. It was the kind of gift that wouldn’t get lost. It didn’t need an occasion to be worn. It wouldn’t break and just required our hearts for storage. That will always be the BEST GIFT we could treasure forever…..the Lord’s gift of my mother and her love to us….

"29There are many good women, but you are the best!"
30Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away,
but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised" ~ Proverbs 31:29-30 [CEV]

23 comments:

  1. God bless you precious sis. Thanks for sharing your memories of your dear mom. I am really missing my momma too. But, I am sure our mommas are friends in heaven, and watching over us. I love you very much.

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  2. Rosel, this post has touched me. ((((Rosel)))

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  3. This is wonderful!!! And, reading it while listening to The Prayer made me tear up more. I love your heart! Happy mother's day sweet sister!
    Wylie

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  4. What sweet memories of your Mama. I hope you have a Happy Mother's Day!

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  5. Rosel, I understand every word you've written, in the depths of my heart...you know that I do. Bless you, sweet sister, as you remember your mama and know that she is smiling now ♥

    Have a beautiful Mother's Day, full of His richest blessings.

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  6. Rosel - this is so touching. I miss my mother also - it's been over 21 years, but I don't think we ever stop missing them. I know she is in Heaven and I take comfort in the knowledge that I will see her again someday.

    Blessings to you dear sister and happy Mother's day.

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  7. Sometimes a heart's contents cannot be spilled in a paragraph or two. I understand. The fact that your heart is filled with such lovely memories of your mother is a rich heritage; one I also understand full well.

    Thank you for sharing her, and your love for her. She is obviously a treasure far above rubies to you.

    Blessings,
    Kathlene

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  8. You have a beautiful heritage in this wonderful mother and it lives on in your beauty, my sister. May the Lord bless this weekend for you and wipe away any sadness you might feel. Happy Mother's Day.

    Praying for those allergies,
    Mary

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  9. I felt honored to partake of your heart for your Mother.

    Praying for you Rosel and wishing you the comforts of our GOD on your Mother's Day. May it be a blessing to your heart.

    Much love.

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  10. This is so sad and yet so beautiful. You're so right. The best gift we can give is the gift of love. Blessings to you this Mother's Day and I hope your allergies get better soon.
    Charlotte

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  11. Remembering with you Rosel. It is still fresh for me . . . I can still hear her laugh . . . and her words the day before she died. We had a good day that day my friend. God allowed us that day . . . to love . . . in HIS GRACE!!! I will not say I do not miss her . . . I do . . . but I know I will see her again. My mom, my friend and my teacher in life. Thank you again Rosel. I love you my friend. Praise God!!!
    Praise God!!! Remembering you and wishing you the most wonderful Mother's Day.
    Your sister in Christ,
    Bren

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  12. That is beautiful, my sweet friend. Happy Mother's Day! Hugs ~

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  13. Rose, thank you for allowing to witness this sacred moment. So touching. I've had similar moments with loved ones - it's always bittersweet.

    Blessings to you on this Mother's Day.

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  14. All I can say is thank you for sharing your heart with us. I am sorry that your mom is no longer with you. We all must go that way one day and yet it is not an easy road to walk.

    I hope that today you focus on all the good of those 69 years! My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  15. I lost my mother in 2002. Thank you for sharing your story. My prayers are with you. Blessings on this wonderful Mother's Day where we honor our mom's and how they touch our lives.

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  16. Hi Rosel...I'll come back tonight and read this later. Your words and thoughts mean so much to me that I don't want to rush through it. But I wanted to wish you a very happy mother's day. You shine...you really shine. Nikki

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  17. Rosel, What a beautiful, sad and touching post. It was hard to read, as it brought back memories of my Dads passing away. You are so right... The best gift in life is Love. She was special and YOU are very special. You have given your time in sharing this, I Thank You for that. I am sorry for her passing away, Sorry you had to go through any of it. I am glad you had those few precious moments to talk with her. You are such a blessing. God Bless you and your family. Thank You for being you. You are a gift to me. Love you lots my dear friend, Happy Mothers Day. Audrey

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  18. Thanks for sharing your story. Mothers are truly a gift from God.

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  19. This is so sad yet so beautiful, Rosel! Thank you for sharing with us. Happy Mother's Day to you.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  20. My sweet and beautiful sister,

    I love you and it's been a while since I have come by to comment. I haven't made it to many blogs to comment lately, but you hold a very special place in my heart. You have always stood beside me in the bloging world since we first met here. I haven't forgotten you my dear friend. My prayers are always with you. You are very close in my heart...always.

    You touched me deeply with your fond and loving memories of your mother. What a beautiful precious woman she must have been. You have such a beautiful heart and love for others, I bet you mother did as well. Oh how we do miss our mothers Rosel...such special loving women they were and always will be in our minds and hearts. To know that they are with the Lord right now simply takes my breath away as I type this and I know that you feel the same way.

    I love you so much dear sister...so very very much. {{{I'm giving you a big hug this day}}} and hope that you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

    God bless you,
    Alleluiabelle

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  21. I'm so touched, I'm wrote this with tears.. and I'm missing my mommy too... I know I made a mistake to her, and really I want to make her happier than before...

    God bless you dear sister, I'll always pray for you and your family....

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  22. What a beautiful tribute to your mom Rosel. One day you will see her again and there will be no more separation.

    I pray you are feeling better. Thank you so much for your prayers too. I was surprised to see my picture in your sidebar. Thank you so much for soliciting prayer on my behalf. You are such a blessing.

    Thank you for Isaiah 41:13. It is one of my favorite scriptures and I needed to hear it.

    Love to you my sister!

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