A Day for celebration, pain, and sorrow

Rather than fight the crazy crowds of dining out on Mothers Day, I took my bride on a date night Saturday evening. Only one of our offspring was going to be home for Mother’s Day anyway. We had a romantic evening that started with dinner at a local Italian eatery .  At the end of the meal, the waitress wished Jane a happy Mother’s Day. I wondered whether she knew that we actually had kids or just assumed.  What if we were a childless couple who wanted to have kids but could not?  I doubt she overheard us talking about our kids because we did not speak much if at all about them during the meal.  I know some couples cannot fathom that idea, but we focused on each other. So, the waitress’ comment seemed risky though well intentioned, and in our case appreciated. I am sensitive to this subject because this Mother’s Day is my mom’s first after my younger brother’s death. I knew the day would be difficult for her and every other mother who has lost a child – grown or not. 

I awoke in the morning expecting to wish my wife a happy Mother’s Day. Instead I heard more sorrow. She was crying as she was propped up in bed reading her iPad.  A message on Facebook brought the news of a young woman who has been given a month or two to live.  Heather had apparently fought cancer a few years back but was now diagnosed with four inoperable tumors in her brain. She has two young children who will grow up without their mom.  But even more, they will grow up only having heard about the amazing person their mom was and (based on their age) will probably have just a few years worth of memories of her.  We had the privilege of having Heather in our youth group many years ago. We knew her from childhood when her older sisters were in the youth group.  Then we were blessed with four years of her active presence in our high school group.  She was one of the students who constantly encouraged me personally through her deep and transparent love of the Lord. She has such joy in her life and blesses the lives of all who know her. Even in facing this tragic news, I am confident that Heather is glorifying God. Mothers day will never be the same in her family though.

I sat eating breakfast and glanced at Facebook for a moment only to see a link to a tragic news story.  A friend in England posted the link regarding a 32 year old woman who had drowned in Lake Michigan last week.  A few weeks earlier I heard her speak at a lunch for youth pastors.  Rebecca shared that day a passage from scripture that choked her up while she read it.  She shared how those verses were read at her younger brother’s funeral some years ago.  He had taken his life.  Now I am reading of her tragic death and thinking about how one gets through Mothers Day having lost two of their three children. Rebecca glowed with a love of the Lord that day as she spoke about evangelism to youth. I am at a loss for words about this news.