Posted on 06/16/2012 8:43:31 AM PDT by Diapason
My late mom, June, was born in the north of England on16 June 1934 in a non-Christian home. Neither of her parents reached 50. Some of her childhood was spent away from home in safer areas as a result of WW2. She was 11 when her father died – she didn’t speak much about him, but from what she did say, it was probably the result of physical damage (shrapnel) from WW1 plus heart problems.
After he died she was in very bad way, and a Christian school friend, Anne, supported her, and led her to Christ. My mom was sent to South Africa as an orphan (her mother had also died of breast cancer a few years later) in April 1950 when she was a couple of months shy of 16 to non-Christian relatives. She had however been given contacts in South Africa from the church which she had been attending (Plymouth Brethren) so she had Christian contact from when she arrived here, which led to her meeting my father.
What makes her situation so profound is that she was led to Christ by another 11 year old. How many 11 year olds could do so nowadays? Another interesting thing is that she said that if you had asked her friend, Anne, how long she had been a Christian, the reply was that she had always been a Christian, which many, including me, would question if that statement were just taken at face value. It seems that Anne had been immersed in Christian teaching and example from an early age, and somewhere along the road that had become real to her, rather than something which had just been heard, or given mental assent to. Anne visited my mom in here in South Africa with her husband in the 1990’s, probably about 45 years after they had last seen each other, and was still a very strong Christian.
This raises very interesting issues about what children are taught nowadays. Are they just taught Bible “stories”, or are they taught and "exampled" Christianity?
Anyway, my mom was admitted to hospital with angina in October 1996 and the same night had to be revived when her heart stopped. Less than 3 months later she was diagnosed with colon cancer, and, in spite of the fact that normally one has to wait for 6 months after a heart attack before having surgery, the surgeon felt the cancer surgery couldn’t wait. At first it seemed to be successful, but from late 1998 the cancer markers in the blood tests started increasing again, first slowly, then very rapidly. In August 1999 she was told she had from 6 to 24 months to live. She died halfway between on 16 November 2000.
At about the time when she had the heart attack she wrote a couple of poems, and with today (16 June) being what would have been her 78th birthday, I was reading them again and thought maybe I should post something here for FRiends who might be interested. I was initially just going to post one poem, but got to thinking about her history and decided to post that as well.
ON MEETING DEATH
I go out with FAITH
In one sure thing
That dogged my paths
Since life began
By which all men are drawn
Though some resist
When cords of love
Their ways would span.
I go out with HOPE
In one sure thing
That stays the mind
And sets it free
From fear and that which binds
The earthling’s soul
When it would wing
Its way to thee.
I go out with LOVE
For that sure One
Who from all ages lives
Though once He died
That I might live through Him
To dwell forever
Cleansed, forgiven
By His side.
I go out with THANKS
For one sure thing
That dawned upon my soul
That without THEE
No Faith or Hope
Or Love exists
Nor ever was
Nor can be.
I go out with JOY
To one sure blaze of light
That ends the darkness
Heralding eternal day
Nought that offends
Can enter there
Where He holds sway.
June M. 16-06-1934 to 16-11-2000
Sweet. I lost my mom that same year, 2000. She was in a convalescent home for about a month. Her roommate, who was VERY OLD, told me, “You are never too old to miss your mom.” I thought that was so sweet.
Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing this with us.
I love the courage. Im 41 and not scared by death. Good for her!!
I’m going to keep this richly beautiful poem. I felt I was with your mother, witnessing the event, as she wrote down every word that was borne by the Lord from her heart.
You did well, and it reads beautifully just as it is. Thank you for sharing it with us.
A wonderful legacy from your mother.
Thank you so much for posting that. I just lost my sister in law, a dear friend, this morning. She was a sweet person and she was saved. I am happy for her that she is no longer fighting to breathe. She had COPD.
She has requested the ladies in her Red Hat Chapter attend the funeral in their regalia. I will use this poem as part of the ceremony when I place the feather. That feather will signify that she has flown away from the pain and cares of this world, to a world where all is peace and love and perfection.
Miss Judy
What makes her situation so profound is that she was led to Christ by another 11 year old.
You know this: Look to the Scripture. How many were chosen by God before they were born, Moses, Samuel, and, in the broader sense, all whom God calls. Brings to mind the words, “A little child shall lead them...”
My own testimony is of scripture planted when I was too young to reason, a poem memorized that became a prayer long before God made Himself real to me. Nearly 30, and a long way down a rough road, God changed me, and all that early learning came together.
Never underestimate the power of God’s Word, or the workings in the heart of a child...even a mean little brat like me!
Thank you for your beautiful memorium and poem. What an unspeakable blessing to have such a Mother!
Why is the screen suddenly blurry?
/johnny
When I visited the very elderly in nursing homes, no matter how old they were, they often spoke of their mothers and fathers, often with tears in their eyes.
I suspect, that inside, they don’t feel any older, or different, than you and I.
Here’s another poem she wrote. (This from an older version of MS Word which doesn’t seem to have spacing problems)
A PILGRIM’S FURTHER PROGRESS
(With apologies to John Bunyan)
or
JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE…….
Soaring with angels
The Silver Cord broken
Upward through vistas
And regions untold
Ominous shadows
Of grey principalities
Quail at our passing
As if fearful and cold
Onwards and upwards
With joy ever mounting
‘She whom thou lovest
Is coming to Thee
Only a small place
A corner, I pray Thee,
A lowly, a quiet place
Thy glories to see’
Planets and Galaxies
Left far behind us
Millions of light years
Unfold and are gone
Upward through space
Of limitless distance
Heavenly messengers
Carry me on
Not for me Abram’s
Bosom though blessed
For those ones of olden
Times dead long ago
But for ever with Him
Who died to redeem me
My heart cries with wonder
‘Oh, can it be so!’
My garment is white
Though ‘twas none of my doing
This raiment so pure
‘Twas righteousness Thine
That clothed me with goodness
In thy sight unblemished
And fit for thy presence
Who art truly Divine
As Heaven approaches
My heart cries ‘Unworthy,
The least of Thy little ones
Cometh to Thee.’
We halt on the threshold
Of brightness unparallelled
Escorts and escorted
Alike bow the knee
Light unapproachable
Parts like a curtain
We gaze at a prospect
Of radiance sublime
And drawn as by a magnet
As Spirit draws spirit
The witness within me
Of life that is thine
‘But, Oh, Lord, this vision
Is splendour sufficient
To view at a distance
And worship and praise
‘Tis glory for me
Just to be in thy presence
All tears and all sorrows
This sight shall erase’
Out from the right
Of the throne all resplendent
A sound as of thunder
That fills Heavens bounds
Angels and seraphim
Haste to attend Him
And list as the Voice
With passion resounds
‘Not for this did I leave
My dominions and glory
And enter mankind
With its darkness and sin
Not for this did I walk
Earth’s dark paths and surrender
Myself to the cross
Man’s redemption to win.
But for joy set before me
Ere worlds were created
That one day in Heaven
My people would be
Beholding my glory
Not through a glass darkly
But face unto face
That no nearer can be.
Not there at a distance
My dear one, long journeyed
From life’s weary wanderings
But near to the Heart
Of the Saviour who loved you
And purchased and gave you
A place in his Kingdom
For you set apart
So hear, all ye seraphim
And hear, Heaven’s bright angels
Oh, hear, all ye creatures
Of land, air and sea
Oh, hear, all ye saints
Who to glory ascended
That she whom I loveth
Has come unto Me”
June M. 16-6-1934 to 16-11-2000
Thank you for sharing your mother’s touching, truth-filled words of poetry!
Sorry to hear about your loss, but rejoice with you that she was saved.
What is the Red Hat Chapter? Not something I’m familiar with in South Africa.
“the reply was that she had always been a Christian, which many, including me, would question if that statement were just taken at face value. It seems that Anne had been immersed in Christian teaching and example from an early age,”
That is my goal for my children as well. It sounds like covenant theology. The friend of your mom was probably a little Presbyterian.
I’ve overheard my children witnessing to friends on occasion. It is not a polished or consummate effort, but it’s sincere and I am sure God uses it.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
That is so beautiful. You mom was lucky to know great faith.
“That is my goal for my children as well. It sounds like covenant theology. The friend of your mom was probably a little Presbyterian.”
Interesting that you should that. The Plymouth Brethren to whom she was referred when she came to South Africa are certainly not covenant theologians - they are very much Arminian. I don’t know what her friend’s denominational background was. My mom ended up with the Baptists (my dad remained with the Brethren) when they moved into her area and she could, even as a never very healthy person, walk there. Baptists in South Africa tend to be mostly Arminian, with a few Reformed exceptions. In spite of that both my mom and I eventually ended up very much Reformed in our theology, although that happened independently of each other.
“Why is the screen suddenly blurry?”
My screen has had the same problem today. In fact, it was probably still 15 June, your time, when I started putting this post together. I couldn’t do it all at once.
Another of Mom’s poems at post #11 in case you haven’t been back into this thread.
WOW! God bless your mom and dad, your families, your friends. Thanks for sharing. Outstanding.
love
Beautiful! This may get used at any memorial services my family may have. Thank you for sharing!
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