Dear Mama:

It has been ten years since we were together. Those words sound so strange even writing them. How can someone live without their mom? We always need our moms. Tears are forming just thinking about how much I still need you.

There is not a week that goes by that I don’t think about you and miss you since you went to Heaven. That is especially true this time of year, and especially this year. The Sunday that time changed on March 9, 2008 was the day you stepped into Heaven to live with Jesus. It was just before midnight. How fitting that God chose the start of Spring to call you to the Land of Eternal Spring with Him. As the world comes back to life each Spring, I am reminded of the new life that you now live in a place of unimaginable beauty and glory with Jesus and with Daddy.

You have always loved the Spring! Flowers and birds were so much your thing that I don’t know how you ever survived through the Winters. I planted some of your daffodils in my yard last Summer, and they are coming up now. I almost feel you walking beside me when I go out to check on them every day to see if a new one is blooming. And when one is, I feel you smile at me. You would be so proud. I finally figured out the flower thing. You would never believe it, but I think I did actually inherit a little bit of your green thumb after all. By the way, I went to your house last week, and I saw your tulips coming up again this year. Your green thumb is still bearing a harvest after all these years.

And, I never got why you loved the birds so much. But, guess what, I feed them now. I have feeders all over my yard (lots of them yours), and I love to watch them. Yesterday, some new birds descended on our yard, and they had the most beautiful song. It sounded like a shrill chirp and then water dripping. I researched them last night and found out that they were cowbirds. They take over your song birds’ nests. I was relieved when I did not hear them today. I guess they were just passing through. This morning, I saw robins hopping all over the yard, and a pair of wrens building a nest in the crook of our gutter pipe.

If you were still here, we could work in our flowers together. You could teach me more about them, and which song comes from which bird and their names. You knew all about that.  I was too busy running a business and raising a family and doing everything else when you were living to do those things. Oh, if we could have one more afternoon together, I would make it count.

I am sure you would tell me that the beauty of this Earth does not compare with what you are experiencing every day in Heaven. Oh, how I would love to hear all about that! I know you would tell me about the beauties of Heaven, and how you love being there with Jesus. I know that you are so glad that Daddy is there now too, and that you can’t wait for the day that all the rest of your family comes to join you. I am excited too, Mama, but I know that God has things for me to do here first. I want to take as many people with me as I can when I come.

God has blessed me with a women’s ministry called Grace In The Wilderness, and to be a teacher of a women’s Sunday School class, that I love, love, love—my Grace Ladies. Serving the Lord is my passion! You and I share that passion, because you adored teaching the little kids about Jesus in Sunday School. Mama, you and Daddy taught me so much about serving, and how to love other people. Thank you!

There has been some other stuff that has gone on in this ten years since you have been gone. Some very good, great in fact—you now have four beautiful great grandchildren. I bet Daddy has already told you about the three of them that came along while he was still here. Austin and Meryl now have another little guy named Barnabas. He is so precious, just like their other three.

Some things not so good have happened too. In 2011, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I had both of my breasts removed. I also had melanoma. Boy, that was hard going through without you! I know that you understand because of your battles with breast cancer and colon cancer. Now I am cancer-free. We share that healing in common, because God healed you of your cancer when you got to Heaven. Praise the Lord! He is so faithful and good!

As time has gone on, I have grown even closer to you though you were not physically here. Life experiences have given me a deeper understanding and admiration of you. I have learned lessons for myself that ring so true to things that you and Daddy told me in years past. It is amazing how much smarter your parents get as you become older and have some of the same experiences they did. I have missed you both so much, but in so many ways you are still with me every day.

I wanted to write about hope in my blog today, but you were on my mind so I decided to write you this letter. Funny how God planted that idea of hope in my mind, and then turned my thoughts toward you.

There is no greater hope than Heaven. Now that you and Daddy are there waiting, Heaven gets sweeter all the time. I will see you one day and we can finish catching up. We will have all eternity for that.

Thank you for taking me to church and living your faith in front of me. Because of that, one Sunday when I was nine, I came to know Jesus and I asked Him into my heart. I am so grateful for my salvation, and that Jesus loved us so much that He made a way for us to be together with Him forever. I cannot praise Him enough for that.

Somehow, I think meeting Jesus face to face, seeing you and Daddy again, touring Heaven and seeing my mansion are going to make me forget all about the minor details of this life. Even so, I am sure we will still find plenty to talk about. Until then, my heart longs for that day that I will see you again.

I miss you, Mama! Happy 10th Anniversary in Heaven! I love you! Sharon

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelations 21:4

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. If your mom is still living, go see her, hug her and share your heart with her. One day you may long to have just ten more minutes with her. May God bless you and your family as you enjoy this beautiful Spring!