Remembering with Hope

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted…”

April 3 marked the 12-year anniversary of my mom's passing. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been that long. This time of the year is always filled with both grief and gratitude. The loss of my mom leftsuch a lasting impact on my family and me, yet I’m thankful for God's presence and steadfast love that provided comfort during our time of sorrow.

Honestly, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of my mom. And while sometimes I still feel immense sadness that she is no longer on this earth, there is also joy—joy for her life well lived, the values she instilled in my siblings and me, and the love she shared with so many people. My mother never met a stranger and was truly a friend to all!

Friends, I believe our grief reminds us of the depth of our love for one another. Jesus knew this feeling when He wept for his friend Lazarus in John 11. His tears remind us that our sorrow is seen and understood by God. God’s presence and promise assure us that we are not alone in our pain.

As I reflect on my mom’s life, I want to encourage all of us to celebrate her legacy by living out the kindness, faith, and strength she showed to my family and to so many people.

So let us trust in the hope we have through Christ, the hope of eternal life, where we will one day be reunited with those we have lost. Until that day, let us honor her memory by loving well, just as she loved me. (The photo is from my wedding day with Rachel and my parents in January 2007.)
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Allen Whittaker
Executive Director