Finding the Comfort Connections

My sweet mama passed away December of 2016. And in five days it will be one year since my daddy passed. I thought I’d learned a lot about grieving as I gradually lost the mom I knew to Alzheimer’s.

But the valley is full of even more holes than the shadows were, and I stumble into tears and heavy-heartedness.

I find myself cherishing things and moments that make me feel more connected to Mom and Dad. Like today, when I called T-Mobile and the customer service rep was so kind and had a southern accent.

My mama was raised in Louisiana, and even though she pretty much lost her accent living in Minnesota, we’d still visit with relatives from the south. So it just makes me happy, happy, happy to hear a southern drawl!

I had to ask the rep where he was from and tell him about mama even! (Come to think of it, that’s something Mom would have done. I sometimes thought she wasted business people’s time being over-friendly. But now I’m proud of her for making the world a warmer place.)

Anyway, for those who want to know, he was from Missouri. But there was something about hearing that southern accent that made me feel like Mama was closer. And it was sweetly comforting.

I feel some of that comfort when I cook or bake with Mom’s recipes, too. And even when I scrub with Comet or polish wood furniture with Lemon Pledge. The scents bring back memories of a young healthy mom busy taking care of us and the security of childhood.,

I even bought myself a Christmas present “from Mom” this year. She used to read Guidepost magazines. I hadn’t read it for years, but I remembered liking them when I read them at Mom’s. So I ordered my own subscription.

Shortly after I ordered it, I was cleaning out the desk I inherited from Mom and Dad and found one envelope that had been missed when Dad shredded old documents, with a bank statement and cancelled checks from when Mom was my age! And guess what I found? She had ordered or renewed her Guidepost subscription that month! (And by the way, the subscription price has gone down since 1991!)

I love that I found that check! And I feel a Mom connection when I read Guideposts now. Which by the way I’m really enjoying! Such an inspiring and encouraging magazine! Somehow, Mama feels a little closer as I read “her” magazine. And I feel her warm smile.

But the best comfort by far is knowing that Mama and Daddy believed in Jesus and are with Him now, and that because of all that we are celebrating this Sunday, we will be together again for eternity!

Happy Resurrection Day! He has risen!