When my mom was nearing the end of her battle with cancer, she expressed to my sister and me, “I’m not afraid to die. I just feel sorry for you girls.”
After the Lord called her home, we had visitation at church the day before her funeral. I remember feeling so utterly overwhelmed by all the love lavished on my sister and me during those hours.
I looked around the gathering space during the visitation and realized just how tightly wrapped my sister and I were in a cocoon of love and support. That cocoon was unwittingly spun by our mom, through her joyful labor of love and encouragement to so many over the years, out of service to her King. The Lord used her to spin that soft place for my sister and me to rest secure, even after she broke free and emerged, transformed into a new body. The Lord gave her wings and she flew into His presence, and we remained. Safe. Loved.
I felt that same love this past week. The Lord reminded me how precious such a cocoon of support can and should be to a person. How powerful a text, a call, an e-mail can be to someone going through a rough time.
[Tweet “We ought not underestimate the power of love. “]
We ought not underestimate the impact of a word in season.
We ought not underestimate the promise to pray.
There’s something about a shared burden that just makes it so much lighter.
[Tweet “Don’t think your words don’t matter.”]
Send the text. Write the card. Make the call.
God might just be using you as thread in somebody else’s cocoon.
Such a fitting and timely reminder, Kate. To be spirit-lead and not ignore those nudgings to call, text, reach out – it’s something that has been on my heart a lot lately. I’ve attended 3 funerals in the last two weeks and you are so right, that cocoon of love is just so precious, but those hearts keep hurting long after those loves ones are laid to rest. Reaching out can’t be underestimated. Thanks for prompting me to be attentive in this area. Glad I was upstairs from you at Meredith’s today!
I love this so, Kate! And I love that we are neighbors over at Merediths’ place today!
Kate, this is so beautiful. My Mama will have gone to be with the LORD 2 years ago next week. I have been thinking about her alot these days, looking at pictures and remembering words she said to me in her love. You lovey picture of a cocoon is perfect for the way Mama left me here. I am grateful to have your words to reflect upon as I celebrate her freedom now. Praising God for His mercy.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
So sorry for your loss, Linda, and yet grateful to hear that you have been left in a similar cocoon of love. Obviously nothing can replace a mother’s love, and yet we can’t ignore the great blessing it is to have others who care for us in the remainder of the journey. Thank you for stopping by.
Beautifully expressed.
There’s another aspect of this, and that is the willingness to be loved in that way. It takes a degree of openness to others that many find very difficult.
I was one of them, but have learned to share things, up to a point, anyway…and to accept, both explicitly and in my heart, the offered love.
It’s easier in this kind of virtual community, though. In person, I don’t come across as someone upon whom you’d want to bestow a hug. It’s not intentional, but I’m tol that I come across somewhere between forbidding and scary. Kind of like Darth Vader on a bad day.
Got to work on that.
This post is an odd coincidence for me, because my mother died a few days ago. To say we were not close is an understatement, and to refer to it as bad blood is like calling the Amazon a wee burn.
Sentiment calls for something of a posthumous reconciliation, and Christianity calls for forgiveness. The former seems absurd, and the latter, though laudable, is beyond my reach at this moment.
But I don’t know how to feel about this; those around me expect that I will dismiss this death, as I dismiss every other one, with a harsh and flippant attitude befitting my former profession of arms, and I will not disappoint them.
Has the mask become the man?
Andrew, you always provide such thought-provoking comments. And even though you did not have a good relationship with your mom, I’m still very sorry for your loss. May God grant you what your heart needs as you reconcile the past and present realities. I’d also like to challenge you with a thought, and that is that for Christians, forgiveness is never beyond reach. May it be yours, by His grace.
Kate, what a beautiful reminder this morning. It is amazing how a word, whether written or expressed verbally, can make a burden lighter. And then there are those times, no words are ever exchanged but the very presence of a friend, a hug or eyes meeting can breathe comfort into a weary soul. May we be mindful of His nudgings today. Blessings!
It’s something I need to be mindful of more often! I feel I am more often on the receiving end than I am on the giving end, and that needs to be remedied. 🙂 Thanks for your comment, Joanne. Blessings to you today.