I just listened to my phone messages.

[RevCheesehead]

On the machine was the last message I received from my Mom (two days before she died). In it, she casually mentions that "this has not been a good week." But the amazing, stunning thing to me, is that at the very end, she didn't close with "talk to you later" or "I love you." Instead, she closed with a prayer. A very simple prayer: "Dear God, watch over and take care of my Ruthie. Amen."

I sobbed for 15 minutes after hearing that.

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[lavenderdiva]

1. that is the sweetest and tenderest story...

I love it! God is SOOOOOO good! He knew you needed that, and to hear your Mom's voice. I still have the answering machine tape with my Mother's voice on it (its been 10 years since she passed away), but its just her saying 'hello, and stuff. Nothing as memorable as your Mom's voice praying for you. What a treasure. (but hearing my Mother's voice is still sweet to me, no matter what she is saying!) If its on a digital recorder, please be sure to record it onto something where you can save it. That is quite a treasure, and one that will bring you such comfort in the future. :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

2. That's what came to me after the tears.

Realizing just how fortunate I am, to have that precious last gift from her. That will work its way into a sermon - perhaps on Maundy Thursday, where Jesus spends time in prayer, praying for his disciples before he faces his own death.

Or maybe I'll just keep it to myself for a little bit, and simply cherish it for what it means to me. There will be other Easters.

Thanks, Lav. :hug:

[lavenderdiva]

7. I think your idea of a sermon about it is wonderful...

but maybe you want to be a little bit selfish about it right now? I think I would. However, the idea of doing a sermon on it at some point would be wonderful. How, even though He died, He still prays for us constantly, and we can 'hear' His voice whenever we want to. His Word is right there, and He speaks through it to us.

I also really like your idea of Jesus' praying for his disciples before his own death.

Both are great messages, and ones that all of us need to be reminded about! :hug:

[WCGreen]

3. Oh baby......

I ran across a letter from my mom when she told me to be nice to my wife...

About two months before she passed.....

[RevCheesehead]

11. And to think some people call this a coincidence.

I don't think so. Not one bit.

:hug:

[merh]

4. How wonderful.

:hug:

A gift that will continue to give for years to come.

May I recommend you make extra copies of that message and secure at least one away in a safety deposit box.

That is more precious than gold. :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

12. Gotta figure out how to copy it off a digital answering machine.

Or dig out the ol' tape recorder. It's a keeper. :hug:

[Kat45]

5. Wow! That is so beautiful.

My eyes are welling up as I read this. It sounds like she knew she wouldn't be there to take care of you. That's something you can treasure always.
:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

13. I don't know if she did, or not.

All that week, whenever I asked her how she was doing, she avoided the question. On the other hand, the day before she died, she was at the doctor's office, and all was fine (or, at least, the same as usual). All I know for certain is that we shared a very special bond, and I will cherish this forever.

:hug:

[shrike]

17. She knew

My sister-in-law, ill with cancer but apparently responding well to treatment, suddenly sent a very lovely goodbye letter to everyone. She dies shortly afterward.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. As a minister, I'm sure you have encountered it many times -

and I've seen it many times - often, those who are soon to die know that they are soon to die, and their behavior and way of speaking changes, such as your mother's. It's such a beautiful thing when that happens. I imagine she knew her time was near.

So very cool!

I'm glad she left that as a voice message to you, so you can save and preserve it if you want.

Blessings!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Yes, once when I was about to leave for a trip to Japan, my favorite

older member of the parish in Portland came hurrying out of the kitchen as I was leaving coffee hour, hugged me, and said, "I just had to say good-bye to you."

The thought passed through my mind that since she had been having heart problems lately, she was perhaps going downhill, but I dismissed the thought.

But sure enough, when I checked my cell phone messages after returning to the States, I found a message from the parish secretary telling me that the woman had died the previous week.

[RevCheesehead]

14. Thanks, Rabrrrrrr.

I dunno if she knew or not. But a couple of weeks ago, she told me she was having a lot of dreams about Grandma. At the time, I thought "oh-oh", but then quickly put it out of my mind. I've noticed that happens more often than anything else - dreams of deceased relatives suddenly appearing.

I just long for one last goodbye, one last "I love you" - and I got it.
:hug:

[UrbScotty]

8. Amen. (nt)

[RevCheesehead]

16. Thank you.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Your story brought tears to my eyes

Just further proof that you had a wonderful mother...and God moves in mysterious ways.

[RevCheesehead]

15. She was (and is) the best.

The hole left is enormous, but I'm praying that God will fill that empty space with grace and love. And thank God I still have my Dad.

:hug:

[DarkmoonIkonoklast]

18. Amen!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. Oh my gosh. What an incredible gift she gave you.

[Maat]

20. God bless you, Rev.!

Here's a prayer that you find a way to preserve that tape forever.

I believe she's now in a place where SHE can protect you - or see that you're protected!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

21. What a gift she left you

The day before my mother died she asked me to sing her an old lullabye called Jesus Tender Shepherd. I was so embarrassed for some reason..and annoyed. But I did. I am told she sang it the next day over and over again until she lost consciousness. My mother was not a believer. Or rather, she was a doubter. I think at the end she reached out.

Another poignant aspect is that in that next to last evening I fed her a banana. I had to smash it a bit and work it into her mouth. The odd thing was that my grandson had eaten his first solid food that morning and I took a video of it. It was bananas.

[flamingyouth]

22. That is a very amazing and inspirational story.

:)