Remembering Mom...

I just wanted to share an awesome experience I had at our church tonight with my dad. Our church, Pinelake, has an annual dinner in honor of those who have lost loved ones over the past year, called Celebrate Life. Jeremy was on-call tonight and Boo couldn't make it at the last minute, so it was just me and Dad. Anyway, there were a little less than 100 people there - one couple which lost a 2 week old infant, two people who lost both parents within this year, one lost a girlfriend and sibling this year, and a few lost children this year. One lady sitting at my table teaches at University Christian School, where my mom taught for a semester, and she said, "Your mom isn't the Marsha Boatner who taught at UCS, is she?" This lady knew my mom and did not know that she had died. She talked about how sweet my mom was. How awesome was it that God put us at that table with this lady who knew my mom!

I also thought it was neat that I got to share the evening with my dad. If Jeremy had not been working, I might not would have even thought to ask my dad or my sister. I think God planned it for Jeremy to be working so that I could share this with my dad.

One thing we did was we lit a candle in memory of each person who had died. Jeff Holland talked a little bit about how everyone in the room had the same commonality of "hurt," but that we all shared the "hope" and "help" from our Lord. My sweet Daddy cried through the whole thing. It just reminded me again how blessed I am to have learned what I have from my mom (especially about being a mom) for the 30 years I had with her. I also feel blessed to be a part of a church family who would take the time and effort during the busy holiday season to remember those of us who have lost loved ones and are spending our first Christmas without them.

Christmas won't be easy this year. Mom and Dad's 39th anniversary is December 21 and she would have been 59 on December 31. The best way I can explain my feelings are to a puzzle that has one piece missing. The puzzle is almost complete but that one piece is lost and can't complete the puzzle. I feel so blessed and "full" by my two precious boys and husband, my dad and sister and other family, and my sweet friends. But I just have this one hole that makes it incomplete. The awesome thing is that I know one day my puzzle will be complete when I get to see my mom again!!!

One verse that was mentioned tonight was Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." But then I read on in verse 5 it says, "Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite." How awesome is that kind of a God??!!!