A Comforting Sign

The mother of my dear friend just died.
She was 93 years old.
Some may say that because of her age, she has lived a full life.
They would be right.

However, full life or not, my friend’s mother will be missed.
She was a woman who I described lovingly as a little spitfire.
And little she was, especially next to my tall frame.
She was feisty, opinionated, funny, sharp as a tack, and she loved to sing.

That love of singing was passed on to her daughter, my friend.
She was a long-standing member of the same church where one of her sons is a pastor.
She sang in the church choir.
She went wherever she needed to go by bus and she never sat still for long.

She would sometimes come to Bible study with her daughter when she was visiting.
I loved when she was there because she always had insights that she freely shared.
She loved the Lord Jesus.
My friend said it best: It was a peaceful departure..when the Lord took her home to Himself.

I listened to my friend the day before her mom died.
She asked for prayer for specific things as I sat in my car talking to her.
I grabbed my little Bible that I keep in my glove compartment for such a time as this.
She wanted to hear Scripture; I read Psalm 46 to her.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
We prayed together over the phone.
Little did either of us know that the Lord would soon take her mother home.
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

I wanted to make a meal for her the day she and her brothers made funeral arrangements.
I wanted to write a note to her from my heart but was still pondering the words.
As I was in one of my favorite stores, I saw the sign.
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.

I bought the sign on the spot.
Memories flooded my mind.
I knew that she would remember.
I knew that God, in His grace, directed me to this sign for her.

Years ago, I went to a funeral service for a young girl.
She was the daughter of a friend who is a Christian music artist.
She had many health problems but was loved and cared for by her parents and siblings.
Even though there were so many health challenges, it was still devastating when she died.

Her father talked about his daughter freely knowing that her story would help someone else.
Her father was asked to lead worship for Joni and Friends, a ministry to the disabled.
Her father deeply loved his daughter.
Some of the sweetest pictures are of the two of them together.

At her funeral service, the song began.
Perhaps the song touched me because of where I was and why I was in that sanctuary.
Perhaps it was the lyrics that captured me.
Perhaps it was simply the truth of the song with its sweet melody.

I was undone.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus
When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus
When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus

Give Me Jesus is a fairly old hymn.
It is an African-American spiritual written during the time of slavery in the Untied States.
The message of the song should be our heart’s cry.
No matter what happens in this life, Give Me Jesus.

I remember crying in the sanctuary during the funeral service of the young girl.
I cried from the depths of my soul.
My friend was sitting next to me.
She understood.

She put her arm around me and would not let go.
She said nothing.
She comforted me with her presence.
She comforted me with her compassionate silence.

I will never forget that moment.
That song and her sweet comfort is forever etched in my memory.
The song always brings me back to that moment in time.
The song always reminds me of my friend.

It was as if a spotlight was shining on that sign.
I knew that I was to give the sign to my friend as she grieves.
I wrote a note to her.
The words seemed to dance across the page.

My friend looked at the sign and remembered.
Even if I am not in the room with her, the sign is there.
It is as if my arm is around her, never letting her go.
She will know and remember.

Give Me Jesus in my grief and sorrow.
Give Me Jesus in my gladness and joy.
Give Me Jesus in my day to day life.
Give Me Jesus, always.

There is nothing to say when someone loses their mom.
Words seem so inadequate.
You grow up pretty quickly when your mom dies, no matter how old you are.
You lose a vital connection to your childhood.

My friend understands and agrees.
There is an empty place that her mother once filled.
There seems to be nothing that can fill that mom-sized hole in her heart.
There is one thing, one Person: Jesus.

Tears came into my friend’s eyes when she first saw the sign.
She looked up at me.
Amazing. This song was playing in my head all day yesterday, she told me.
I did not know that, but God did.

The tender mercy of our God amazes me over and over again.

 

2 responses to “A Comforting Sign”

1. A beautiful song by one of my favorite singers. We are all praying for your friend, who is our friend too. She will be comforted by our prayers and thoughts, but most of all by our Lord Jesus.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     I know that she is comforted by our prayers for her and her family. That song is very special to me and always touches my heart.
     Gina

     Reply