recentchristian

On June 20, six months ago today, my loving, kind, sweet mother passed away.  She was in the hospital at the time and was ready to die.  I was on the phone with her at 9:07pm PST when she died.

I’m fortunate that God adopted me into his family on December 29, 2013 so I would know to pray to God to extend grace to our conversation as I was on the phone with mom in her last hours.

On June 18, 2014, just a few days before our last conversation, I asked mom “if you are asked why you should be let into heaven, what would your answer be?”  She told me that she should be let in because she was good and had done good things in her life.  My eyes flooded with tears – I knew what this meant and I was very scared – I was ready for a good fight for her soul.  I took a deep breath and told her gently that it was just a short time ago that I realized that Jesus paid a huge price, taking on every sin of the world so that all of those who believe in Jesus and follow him would have a place reserved in heaven.  I quoted Isaiah, telling her that Jesus has “swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.  Return to me for I have redeemed you.”  Then I quietly asked mom if she believed this.  I went on to tell mom that she was saved through her believe in Jesus and the cross, and that Jesus dying for us is all that really matters to allow him to open the gate for us – it’s not the things we do, it’s not the “works” we do.  Mom told me that I have filled her up.  I understood that to mean that the Holy Spirit filled her up and entered into her a few days before her death.  I know I can’t be sure but it’s what I’m choosing to believe – I felt a shift in the air and in her.

On June 20, our last conversation, I wasn’t sure which direction to go but God came through for me.  The earnest prayer (I said before getting on the phone) for help and for God to extend his grace was answered.  My friend Kathy H was on Facebook at the time and she was typing the words to Jesus Loves Me so I sang that quietly to mom and prompting me on other things to say.  I posted on Facebook, asking people if there was anything they would like me to tell mom so I was able to say a few things that made her smile.

I sensed that mom needed “permission” to die.  I told her that if God works his grace the way I wanted, I was hoping his grace would extend so that her last breath would be while on the phone with me so that she wasn’t moving on alone.  I told her that I knew she was ready and that I didn’t want her to feel held back at all or feel that she should stay in this life for anyone.  She quietly took her last breath while we were on the phone together.

God’s divine timing was at work here.  Being adopted into his family just six months prior to mom’s death, I was able to reach out to Pastor John (who told me to keep coming back to the cross) and to Jill B (who gave me some great verses in scripture to quote).  Pastor David set me up with another Pastor to do the funeral service (mom lived in PST and I live in the EST zone). My conversion was perfectly timed.

Mom died on Friday night/Saturday morning at 12:07am.  Call me crazy or what you will – I faithfully went to church on Sunday June 22.  I don’t remember why I decided to go – maybe it was to be with family – I’m not sure.  I do know that God had a purpose in me going to church that Sunday.

God’s timing is perfect.  He alone knows the events of the past, present and future and knows what is best in each given moment.  I’m so thankful that I can give thanks to God for adopting me into his family and also for being with me during the last conversation.