From Death into Life Part 2

"I am strength for all the despairing."

 

Over the next few Sundays, I will be sharing my personal journey back to the practice of my faith and full communion with the Catholic Church. How I lost my faith in God, and how through God’s grace and loving care I was able to repair my relationship with God our Father and experience the loving care he has for me in my life. 

Here is Part 1.

Here is Part 2

Thirty four years ago this year, my Mother lost her battle with cancer.  She was 43 when she died; she left behind a 48 year old husband, and two daughters.  My sister was three weeks shy of her sixteenth birthday, and I was twelve.  That was the summer I lost my child-like trust in God, yet it was also the summer I met Stephanie, the person who was instrumental in bringing me back into the practice of my faith.

The year was 1977, and I had been selected along with three of my classmates to attend a summer school enrichment course we referred to as “Government School”.  This was a course offered to rising 7^th graders who showed promise in history and civics. It was an honor to be invited to this program, and my Mother was very proud of me.  For four weeks we studied state government structure, and at the end of program, we were scheduled for a trip to our state capitol, Sacramento.

During this time, my Mother was hospitalized.  Her cancer had returned and had quickly spread throughout her body.  I was unaware of this at the time.  What I was aware of is how adamant she was in her desire for me to make that trip to Sacramento.  She insisted upon it.  I was on that trip when she died.

I remember getting off the bus and seeing the look on my father’s face and instantly realizing she was gone.  When I arrived home, my dress clothes were neatly laid out on my bed, thanks to my Aunt Joan. There was time only to clean up and attend her Rosary.   

My mother had been very active in parish, so it was decided that her Rosary would be held in the church to accommodate the crowd.  The viewing was open casket.  She was wearing a pink floral chiffon dress she had made herself.  On her head was a wig.  On her lips was her favorite shade of lipstick, “Cherries in the Snow” by Revlon.  I can still remember how that lipstick smells. 

When people sing about “holes in their heart”, I can honestly say I have experienced that feeling when I saw my Mother.  I cried, of course, I cried, but more than that, I remember the heavy physical pain in my chest.  The pain was unbearable.

Psalm 142:

“With all my voice I cry to the Lord, with all my voice I entreat the Lord. I pour out my trouble before him. While my spirit faints within me. But you, O Lord, know my path.”

At times like this one, many people grow closer to God.  Through their despair, they find the comfort and peace in their personal relationship with Jesus.  However, my 12 year old image of God did not understand how God, the loving Father, could allow my Mother to suffer and die.  I experienced a crisis of my trust and faith in God which lasted many years.

Comments

[Sharon O]

wow that had to have been incredibly hard to understand why someone didn't give you the chance to see her before she died. I am sure they meant well and perhaps thought they were protecting you from the 'reality' of her dying, as an adult now it has to be hard for you I will pray that your 'heart hurt' around her death is healed.
Sometimes adults make decisions for little children that is wrong. I think they are much stronger than we give them credit for, you would have been alright. thank you for sharing this part of your story.

[Headless Mom]

What a terribly painful thing to lose your mother at such a young age.

My husband has now lost both of his parents and I see in him such loss at times when he would normally go to them.

hugs.

[Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments, HM. I know how your husband feels, I lost my father of cancer too, and as fate would have it, buried him on the same day, 19 years later, as my Mom was buried. It was incredibly difficult aftermy Dad died. Fortunately, I had a wonderful man who helped me through it all, who I later married.

Peace be with you,

Mary
Join me @ A Simple Twist of Faith

[Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith]

Sharon,

I holdno resentment for the decisions made by my family surrounding my Moms death. They, especially my Dad, were overwhelmed with grief.

Peace be with you,

Mary
Join me @ A Simple Twist of Faith