Two years ago, this January I lost my Mum to Covid-19. 10 Years earlier, Mum had a massive stroke but against all odds survived. She lost the use of her right side and couldn’t walk, dress, use the bathroom or wash herself. My Dad became her main carer, and they had carers in every day to help. During Covid-19 lockdowns the family did everything that was asked, no going out, no visits, to keep her safe. However, Covid-19 still got into her home and claimed her life. As with many, many, families we didn’t get to see her or say a proper goodbye. The funeral was held with a few family and friends all wearing masks and no wake. We ‘celebrated’ her life the best we could within the restrictions given.
I am grateful that Mum lived to see my daughters marry and got to meet her great grandchildren. In 2019 we celebrated her 80th Birthday with most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren there. She said to me she never thought she would live to see it. I spent the day before the party with her and we went through an old tin full of photographs. It held memories from her childhood up to her wedding. She could remember with clarity the names of her pets, friends and what she was doing at the time. It has now become a treasured memory.
When Mum went to her permanent home with Jesus, she was alone in hospital. I say alone, by that I mean without any family there. I am sure Jesus was with her as she took her last breath. Mum had a relationship with Jesus since the early 1980’s when she went to a Billy Graham outreach with a friend. She introduced Jesus into our family and like dominos my dad, my younger brother and sister followed suit. My Grandma and I took a little longer. I remember her being convinced that my Grandad had become a Christian before he passed away. This was confirmed by the person who was with him at the time. Many people said she couldn’t be sure, but her faith and trust were unshakeable.
Before her stroke, Mum was known for her fiery temperament. But after her stroke she changed and became more content in nature. However, this is not what we will remember her for. Her legacy is generational. She introduced faith into our broken family. Jesus healed, restored, and became part of our family story. Don’t get me wrong we are by no means perfect; we have our own issues and struggles. But we have a faith that has generational consequences all starting with a simple yes in a crowded stadium (Luke 1:50).
My Mum’s yes changed how we lived our lives and how our futures would be shaped. We discovered going through her belongings that the bible verse John 3:16 meant everything to her. We found poetry she had written about salvation and what it meant to her. In discovering her faith Mum had discovered herself and a love for writing. She adored being in her garden where she found her inspiration. She was a gifted gardener.
At the time my Mum said that ‘yes’ to Jesus, my family was broken and angry. We didn’t really interact with one another and there were lots of arguments and rows. But I noticed the new friends being bought into the house were strangely happy and fun. It was so weird to me, I didn’t understand what had happened, so I moved out. But within weeks, I found Jesus for myself. I was at an event where Revelation 3:20 was quoted. It was then I realised that from a young age, Jesus had been knocking at my door in school and at my youth group. And at that moment, He was knocking again, and I didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes’. Now my children have said ‘yes’. They both married husbands who have said ‘yes’. Now we pray and expect our grandchildren to say ‘yes’ one day. I am so thankful to my Mum and for her legacy that is now being passed through the generations.
Featured photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash.
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