Alwayne Ruth Handlin
03/13/1929 – 01/30/2002
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” Washington Irving
It has been thirteen years since my mother left me standing in the St Anthony’s Hospice room, looking up. I knew she was blowing kisses back to me as she turned her face from me and looked into the face of Jesus. I blew one last kiss her way. I have no doubt that she and Jesus worked out the time of her departure, so that I would have no doubt, she was safe in good hands.
There was something only those who knew her well, would see as a sign, that she left with someone she felt safe with. She was terrified of snow. Weeks before the winter was to begin, she would start worrying about driving in snow; worrying about her children, driving in snow; family, neighbors driving in snow. I have often wondered what happened in her youth that made her dread snow and ice with such obsession. Her worry about snow and ice was worrisome to those of us who watched her obsess.
It was the twelfth day in hospice. It began to snow. I was walking around her room, softly talking at her as she was no longer communicating with me. “Mom, I don’t think this is a day that you will want to travel. The snow is falling. It is beautiful, but not a day you would be caught traveling in.” I settled down beside her and began to read my Bible, in and out of prayer, the whole day. Confident that we would not be leaving today.
It was a huge snow. Roads out of Amarillo were closed. All travel was discouraged even in the city. My husband was caught at home. I was settled with my Mom, in the place where angels walk the halls, across town; snow falling beautifully to the ground. I decided to lay down at the foot of her bed as I could not keep my eyes open. I was listening to her beautiful breaths. My God selected angel who carried me nine long months and delivered me healthy into this world, there with me. Once again just the two of us, alone. The nurturer and the nurtured. Me and Mom. My thought as I lay there so close to her, “How will I make it through your departure? Will my own heart stop beating when yours does? Who will know me and ever love me again, the way you do?” My heart seemed to be beating in synch with hers.
Then, the breaths stopped. The clock read 12:31 am. I went to her side. She was so beautiful. It seemed God had removed every wrinkle from her face. Every worry from her heart. I rang the bell for the nurse. I announced to her and the world that, “Ms. Handlin, has departed for heaven.” The nurse came running into the room, to my side. As we stood there together, in a quiet reverence like I had never experienced, our nurse said to me, “Kathy, your Mom most surely has left with Jesus.” I smiled and nodded. She must have realized I was not “getting it.” She turned me to her and said the words that gave me total peace. “She has decided to travel on the worst night of nights, in a blowing blizzard, with someone who took her fear away!” I had shared with her nurse earlier in the day, that we would not be leaving as Mom will never travel in snow. Oh, thank you God!!
~Thought For Today~
In her life on this earth, travel on a snow day or night would not happen. Never! Someone she trusted came and took her by the hand and they flew together through the snow…to her forever home. I have no idea if it was angels or Jesus himself who escorted her from the pain, fear and the worries of this life. I choose to believe that she was giving us a loud and clear message. I am safe, happy and healed forever. I am going to make sure you know that, by departing on the worst night in years. On a night, only family would know, she was in good hands…powerful hands…or she would never have walked out the door.
That treacherous night my husband came all the way across town in horrible conditions to take me home. It took nearly two hours round trip before we were safe home. The next morning, I opened the door to look out on a beautiful snow with a magnificent sun. It was shining down through the trees laden with snow. It seemed my yard was aglow with sparkles like jewels, through the trees and across the blanket of snow. A smile came. You win Momma! One more little note to make sure I “get it.” Where you are is safe and beautiful. Another angel called Mom, has taken up new residence with the Savior of the world.
If you still have your Mom here on this special day let her know what she means to you. If this is many Mother’s Day’s since she was with you, remember her special ways, the words of wisdom she shared, and even the difficult times together; the tears shed when there was a difference of opinion. If this is the first Mother’s Day without her, I pray your heart will heal from the loss of so great an influence in your life. That each day that passes, comfort comes, assurance that she is safe. Your own life a sweet remembrance of your Mom, who has now joined that special force of heavens angels known as…Angel Moms!
~Scripture For Today~
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (NASB)
Proverbs 31:27-31
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates. (NASB)
Isaiah 55:10-12
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We praise You for those angels come to earth. Our Mothers. Our life coming through theirs. We pray Your grace and blessings over each mother on their special day. We pray Your comfort and peace for those whose Mothers have passed. Father, we ask that the spirit of forgiveness fall on the mother and child relationships that may have experienced difficult days. We pray for gratitude for our life and the Mother you chose to be ours. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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