I never realized how a cell phone could become one of the most important tools of your life.
On March 31, 2008, my mother lay in a hospital room dying, and I was in Germany calling the nurses' station. A dear friend of mine was at my mother's side - along with many other friends and family. She was no longer responding, but the nurses knew she could still hear. So I called my friend on her cell phone, and she put the cell phone up to my mother's ear. And I spoke to my mother - one last time.
Her heart beat faster and she breathed deeper, she even smiled a little, the nurses said. And I had the last five minutes of her life this side of eternity to tell her I loved her and would never forget her, and that nothing could ever separate us as we look forward to a reunion someday with all other family members who have gone on before us.
She died while I was speaking to her on that cell phone - I was the last voice she heard in her life her this side of eternity.And I look forward to hearing her say to me someday "hi Mark, this is your mother...." but then we will need no cell phone. And our conversation then will never end.....
I have not posted a blog for a long time. My mother's deteriorating health made it impossible for me to write anything on this blog - I simply did not have the spirit to compose. I visited her for three weeks in February, so we had much time together then. But at the last week of March her condition suddenly began deteriorating, and within three days she died.
I now have no parents this side of eternity. As I continue through this chasm of grief, I value your support and sincere words of comfort. I do not know where this journey will lead, but I know that the hope of the restoration of all creation in the resurrection of the dead is the most important anchor of my life anyway, and now even more so.
