It has been almost 10 years that I lost my precious Mother to a very aggressive form of cancer. Yet that aching void in my heart has not diminished through the lonely passage of those years.
I long to hold her, feel her presence, to stare into her eyes and hear her voice. She turned our house into a home which is a massive difference. I can still see her canning and filling our fruit cellar with delicious peaches and pears in our home on Wright Street in Welland.
I can still smell the sweet aroma of her apple pie and other baked goods filling our home. She raised 4 children, baked, kept the house clean, filled our home with joy and love, and purchased the first truckload of lumber (with her own money) that led to establishing of our family business, Welland Lumber and Builders Supplies. She worked hard there for many years as the administrative secretary and sales person.
Sales reps, customers, employees, family and friends really liked her. We shared in many barbeques, picnics and family outings while growing up, which continued when we moved to our new home on the lake in Port Colborne.
She encouraged me when I wore a leg brace. I don’t know how many times I fell down when I tried to walk, yet she told me not to give up. She nursed me back to health when as a young child I ate a bar of lye soap. She tenderly and patiently applied a poultice to my wrist as I had overturned a scalding hot pot of water onto it.
She had a quiet but solid faith. Her prayers, life and example spoke volumes to me. I cannot believe that I am now not only a Christian but a Pastor. There is tremendous power when you link up persistent prayer with a Godly life. Both she and my Aunt Edie encouraged and supported me by faithfully attending my first church in Welland for over 6 years.
A few years later cancer hit my Mother very hard and very aggressively, yet she did not complain, as she had no fear of death. She knew she belonged to Christ and would soon be with Him.
Right up to the bitter end, as her time on earth grew to a close as she lay in bed we laughed and cried together (though I do not remember her crying at all). She was ready. She was tired and very sick, but she was also packed up and ready to meet Jesus, her Lord and Saviour.
We took Holy Communion together and sang a few comforting hymns just before she passed into Glory.
I praise the Lord for a very special Mother and I’m wishing all of you Mothers a very special Mother’s Day.
Pastor Gary
