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Bye Mommy

Lauren was running as fast as her little legs would carry her to my house.  But every little bit she would stop, turn back towards Mommy standing on her front porch, clinch and unclench her fist to wave and say, “bye Mommy.”  The pull to the comfort of Grandma’s house is huge, but to leave Mommy for even a small time is also a big deal.

 It reminds me of our life struggle here on earth.  My desire to see Jesus and to live with Him forever has me running full steam ahead.  God has prepared a heavenly city with precious stones.  A mansion is waiting with streets of gold.  There is a river of life flowing with crystal clear, nourishing, everlasting water.  The banquet table, laden with food, is set. There is a tree bearing life-giving fruit every month.  The heavenly garments are washed pure white.  But my shoestrings have anchors firmly bedded in earth’s soil. 

How can one say goodbye to loved ones?

How could my family get along without me?

Who will complete my unfinished work? 

Who will cherish my treasures?

I want to see my granddaughters grow up and hold their babies.

I love my husband and cherish our time together.

I still have things to do, places to go and words to say.

The pull towards the comfort of heaven is huge.  I often look to the sky and wonder when Jesus will return.  To leave earth is also a big deal even though Scripture reminds us over and over that our time here is temporal and fleeting. God has created within us a desire for fellowship and belonging.  God blessed the creation of male and female and commanded us to be stewards of the earth, to be fruitful and multiply.  Jesus commanded us to make disciples in every nation.   I am grateful it is not for me to decide when my task is done.

 Titus challenges us to keep a proper perspective while on earth, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)  When God beckons, my shoelaces will snap and I will go; I will not look back for I shall see His face.

January 2, 2004

By Pat Hertzler