---"Waiting On the Lord" ~~

--"Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles...." --[Isaiah 40:31]

--For the last few years of mom's life I used to tell her that I had a secret prayer for her. "Mom, when the time comes--and I don't wish for it to come any time soon --but when it comes, I pray that you get a direct flight."

She liked that idea. No long stay in a hospital, no lingering illness, no back and forth with dozens of doctors and medical specialists. Mom had always been blessed with good health. Those last two years she still lived at home at home with help from a wonderful caregiver who came in during the day. Then at ninety-three she was hit with flulike symptoms. that landed her in the hospital. The diagnosis/ pneumonia. I immediately flew out to California to see her.

That was a Tuesday. On that Thursday--what turned out to be her last day--all four of us kids stood around her hospital bed while a minister from her church read her favorite passage--"the one about eagles wings, as she put it. We sang he song about eagles' wings and then she turned to me and quietly said, "I'm going to the Lord's house soon."

Later that night, when none of us were there, we got a call from the hospital. Mom had died a little after ten o'clock.

One of the difficulties of such a direct flight is that it can leave those of us left behind on the tarmac staring at the sky, struggling with an unexpected sense of loss. What I take comfort in is knowing in how God's love shimmered through all of those years of Mom's love for us our prayers answered. ~~

"Thank You, God, for answering prayers. Help me, now to know Your presence in all Your answers. ~

--Guideposts/RH~