The Labor of The Hole

“Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord. Yes…they will rest from their labors for their deeds follow them.” Revelation 14:13

“The death of one that belongs to the Lord is precious in his sight.” Psalm 116:15

Several months ago, I asked my siblings to share some of my parents’ favorite sayings.  My dad always said, “Ditto cabbage head” and “Any dummy can do it.”  My mom always quoted many of the old sayings about nature like “three snows after the forsythia blooms.”  My oldest brother, Edwin, after some reflection said, “I don’t remember any sayings of mom, but she was a prayer warrior.”  My mom prayed.  She prayed for family.  She prayed for situations.  She prayed for the needs around her.  She prayed. 

As I reflect on Mother’s Day, it is one of my sad days because my Mom is not physically with me but is in Heaven.  I miss talking with her daily.  I miss her wisdom.  I miss just sitting with her.  I miss her recipes and her love for chocolate and baking.  I miss her smile.  So much I miss about my mom, but what I miss the most is her prayers.  I knew that she was praying for me daily.  If I talked with her about a situation or a need, the first thing she did when the conversation was over was to pray about it.  My mom prayed without ceasing and lived in constant communication with God.  Knowing I was being prayed for by my mom, gave me a sense of peace and security.

Recently a friend told me one of the holes in her life since her husband died was the constant communication and texting throughout the day they shared.  She missed having someone to text that cared about the little things that happened and to receive a text from the one person who could make her smile when life was difficult.  The need for communication and connection is a hole that forms in our lives when our main person dies.  We grieve the security and support.  We grieve not having someone who cares about the little details of our lives.  We miss the one person with whom we want to share the details and dailyness of life.

Mother’s Day is a reminder of my mom and those who have taken on the role of “mom” in my life at various churches I have served.  Women who have poured their love and care into me and treated me as family.  They have been a gift from God in supporting me on the journey and encouraging me.  But nobody can fill the hole of my mom’s prayers.  Her prayers were a labor of love.  It was my mom’s calling in life to pray for her children, grandchildren, and extended family.  I know she prayed in her garden, on her swing, in her chair and while working in her kitchen.  Every place was a holy haven of prayer.

The scripture in Revelation 14:13, states that those who die in the Lord will rest from their labors, but their deeds follow them.  My mom is in Heaven and rests with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, and her deeds of prayer have followed her to Heaven.  Is she still praying for me and her family?  I believe she is.  But the hole in my heart on earth is still here because she is not physically present with me.  The hole though, is paved with my mom’s prayers.  Her prayers remain.  Her deeds of prayers are part of the foundation of my life.  As I feel the absence of her love and support, I also feel her prayers continue to surround me.  The hole that my mom leaves in my heart is held together with her prayers.

My mom also inspires me to keep prayer at the center of my life.  I talk with God on my morning run, throughout moments in the day and have become aware of God’s constant presence with me on this journey of life.  The deeds of my mom have left a legacy of love in the hearts of her children and family.  I continue to pray for my family just as my mom did.  Her labor of love is her legacy. 

In our grief, acknowledge the holes in our hearts created by our loved ones.  But also recognize the holes are lined with love and prayer.