Grieving her departure from afar…

Saying good-bye to my mom back in November of last year I knew that there was the possibility that it would be my last time doing so on this earth. This has now come to pass.  How do I process that from afar?

One of my mom’s favorite songs in recent years has been “Count Your Blessings”.  Mark even mentioned this recently when he preached at church a month ago.  So, I will count my blessings as I move forward.

I am sure that God was preparing me for this, as well as other difficulties this year, even as I dealt with the sudden death of my nephew Marky last year.  Mark and I were not with our children when we received the news.  We had to call each one of them individually because they were all spread out across the country and state.  I was having a hard time with that and wanted nothing else but to be with them as they grieved his death.  As I prayed about that back then, I was comforted by the fact that although I was far from my children, I was physically close to my sister, Marky’s mom, and my brother and was able to be with them as they dealt with this terrible loss.  God showed me this blessing and affirmed to me that my children each had wonderful friends, who stepped in, to comfort and support them as well. It was like God was saying: “Don’t worry Maggie, I will sustain them and provide for them, each one, in their time of need” and “Here you are in the same country as them and can’t be with them and I’m taking care of them, so I will also take care of them when you are across the ocean”.  The peace that God gave me at that time has been a blessing even now as we travel this road again having had to call our children and give them the news.  Jocelyn was with a truly great friend hiking in NC and came home to stay overnight with Zach before heading back to college,  Holly is living with my mom’s brother as she completes a clinical in Boston, and Naomi happened to be spending her birthday weekend with my in laws.  All were in good hands and loved.  God is good!

Having moved to Zambia and a few months later dealt with the separation that COVID has caused, has made it more difficult to make new friends here in Macha.  The blessing of social media and phone calls have been wonderful.  Unlike when my brother died in Morocco, when telegrams and letters were the only means of communication, I can talk to people easily.  I am blessed to be in touch with friends and family in the US even as I don’t have many friends here yet.

Speaking of friends, the first Zambian couple whom we met are Michael and Beatrice Musonda.  Back in July we had planned to take a trip to Kafue National Park along with another missionary couple. As things turned out, we weren’t able to go at that time and they returned to the US for a couple of months.  We then decided to ask the Musondas if they would be interested in going.  They were very interested, however, they had to wait until Michael submitted his dissertation for his Master’s degree and then presented it before a panel, never really knowing the dates for either of these events ahead of time.  Mark also had to preach at church and then was summoned for hospital budgeting meetings for a week in Livingstone.  So, finally the dates were picked: Sept 30 to Oct 3^rd, when all were free to go.  As the end of September approached and mom was put in hospice care I was second guessing whether to go to Kafue or to stay home.  As I encouraged Jocelyn to go ahead on a trip with a friend the very same weekend and to not wait around for the news, I knew that I couldn’t tell her one thing and do another myself.  So, off I went with the Musondas (along with their youngest almost 1 year old Marianna) and Katrina (a Canadian working at MICS) to KNP. We had a wonderful time relaxing (which everyone needed very much) and enjoying the animals (even having to be escorted after dark as hippos were grazing in the grass around the cabins) as well as getting to know each other better.  We had lots of laughs and were enjoying the wonderful experience together.  When I received my brother’s call on Friday evening (our time) that mom had passed the news was difficult.  It would have been difficult wherever I might have found myself at the time.  I was actually so grateful and blessed to be in such a beautiful, peaceful location with my new friends.

 Had we been in Macha all of them would have been very busy at work and in their homes rather than having time to spend together and support me.  What a blessing this was!  Mark was available to me instead of fielding 1000 phone calls and people knocking at the door.  This was truly God’s timing!

As I slowly adjust bit by bit to the reality of her departure, I am blessed to know that mom is rejoicing in heaven right now.  I am blessed by her legacy and what she has modeled for me throughout my life.  I am blessed by the countless prayers that she prayed on my behalf.  I am blessed by the many who have shared their love with us in these difficult times.  And, as an added surprise blessing, I even received a beautiful bouquet of roses from another Zambian friend.

Today I have felt the love of 4 Zambian ladies who seem to truly care about me which has been very encouraging to me. 

So , onward we go, knowing that God has us in His perfect care. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Chorinthians 1:3-4.

She enjoyed playing with her grandchildren.

She had a hat for every occasion.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In the end, the most important answer that any human will give is to the question of “what they believe will happen to them after death?” My mom knew that Christ’s redemption from her sins was the only thing that would allow her to have eternal life with Him after her brief time on this earth. She loved Christ and wanted others to also find this redemption that only He could give them. So, if any of you reading this blog have not yet found faith in Christ’s redeeming blood (that His blood on the cross paid the price for each and every sin committed by us on this earth) and His resurrection (which allows the redeemed to rise to heaven after death) please ask me about it. Please start asking questions. Please search for answers. Don’t be afraid to seek out what the Bible teaches. Mom would want this for you and would rejoice in seeing you in heaven. I long for the day when I will see her, my father, my brother and nephew, as well as many others, in Glory.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Pet. 1:3