Saturday, March 16, 2013

March Memories


March Memories


Margaret Heins Severance
July 13,1922  -  March 13, 2001



I recently came across a piece of notebook paper that bore my mother’s handwriting. What she wrote is below in the body of this blog posting. Another hand written printing of it is in the introduction pages of the scrapbook she gave to me when I finished high school and it holds photos and other memorabilia that range from my birth year up through my high school years. What a treasured labor of love it remains to be to me. It brings joys untold as I revisit those years and all they held.

March. It is the month when, in our North American hemisphere, the season of spring emerges bringing its promise of new life and hope after long winter months. It seems appropriate that the month of spring’s arrival was the time God ordained for my mother, Maggie, to leave her earthly home and enter in to the eternal spring where new Life and color-filled brilliance beyond our imaginings exists - reunited with her Creator. For my mother, whose life and smile brought joy and a sense of spring to all she met, it was indeed appropriate.

In the hospice facility’s room, where my mother lie during her last days, there was a window. Just outside the window, new life was beginning to bloom. Daffodils, primroses, and a flowering cherry tree framed my feelings that were grief ladened. 

I had moved in to the room for what turned out to be six days. I brought in bouquets to set by her bedside along with other floral gifts friends and family had brought or sent. God was preparing me and I know that He was preparing my Mom internally for her time of leaving. Life is temporary here on earth, but life is not ending, although these kinds of earthly goodbyes are the hardest to say and experience.

God’s gift of life came to me via my parents - a gift for which I am grateful. In the writing my mother found to use as an introduction to the scrapbook of photos to mirror some of my early years, she found  sweet expressions of her hopes and dreams that she wished for me.

They are ever appropriate thoughts to express for a life newly begun or a live fully lived. The author of these words is unknown to me, but all that they express were known by my mother and continue to be experienced by me.

During this spring’s month of March, I share them with you as I remember my Mom, her life, my life and the life that we have each been given as a gift.


I was just thinking . . .


If the seed that was to become you had never flowered, do you know what you would have missed?

   The sun’s gold blessing on your head,
The sound of your own voice,
your own laughter,
your own tears.

The miracle of your own body, a beautiful instrument, designed for experiencing, learning, caring, achieving.

The sweetness of water on thirsty lips and the silk of it on dusty skin.

The taste of bread, fruit, meat, and all the mingled caress of their fragrance.

Long grass under your toes,
a bird in flight against a cloud,
the soaring ache of the universe beyond the stars.

The release of rain and the awesome anger of thunder.

The satisfaction of seeking and finding the peace of fulfillment.

A certain ecstasy at unspecified times and for unspecified reasons, yet somehow, a justification for living.

A quick recognition of love in the lines of a face, the touch of hands, in words left unsaid, in an act of kindness for no other reason.

Seeing again the same hometown, the same home, the same family as for the first time and seeing them in the full circle of existence.

The creation of a child, or a place, or a piece of something beyond self, giving your heart the right to beat for more than it’s own need.

The lights of man’s night and the night of God’s lights and you between, a partner of both.

The privilege of being allowed these years out of eternity to share the greatest adventure you can ever know . . 

Life itself.

Lynn with brothers, David. Michael, and our Mom
1999


14 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing the words that meant so much to your lovely mother, Lynn. I have to say, I "walked right in there," and in my own way, felt the stirring of deep feelings and satisfaction as I read them. How wonderful it is for you to get this glimpse of your mother's appreciation for words and thoughts! Thank you for sharing and also for allowing us to see you with your brothers and mother. It's a lovely photograph. God bless you!

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    1. Thank you, Carol.

      It brings a smile to me reading your words of appreciation for my Mom.

      The photo was the last one of we kids taken with our Mom and the last Christmas all of us were with her. In 2000, just she and I spent the Christmas day together, a treasured time in light of her unexpected death 3 months later.

      Love, Lynn

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  2. You favor your mom so much, Lynn. Two beautiful ladies! How precious to have this photo.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa - I accept that compliment.
      My brothers have scrapbooks, too!

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  3. Lynn,
    What a blessing to have such special rememberance from your mother. Such a beautiful inheritance.
    My own mother went to be with the Lord in the month of April. I have a good amount of her pictures as memories. And my kids still tell me stories about when they would go down stairs and spend time with her.
    The loss of a mother is hard, not matter how many years have past. But we both have the assurance that they gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ.
    Were the word "I was thinking' from her or you ? Thanks for sharing about your mom with us.
    Love
    Carol Adams

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    1. Thank you, Carol.

      It is wonderful to have treasured memories. I am glad to read that you and your kids also have fond memories of your mother/grandmother. The loss is hard and really never goes away - we somehow integrate it into the "new us" without them near. . .and yes, the assurance that we will be united again.

      The words that began the piece, "I was Just thinking. . " were what were on the paper and in the scrapbook and I can only assume they were part of the whole message that she copied. I tried going online to see if there was any "famous" writer who had written it by typing in some of the text, but I could not find an author.

      Mom read a lot and loved beautiful quotes which I find sometimes in her books that I now have. It had to come from something she read all those years ago.

      I appreciate reading your comments. God bless!
      Love,
      Lynn

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  4. Hello Lynn,
    How special for us that you shared such beautiful words from your Mother! They touched my heart this evening
    Thank you for sharing the photo as well. Your Mother's smile is just precious. A lovely family photo!
    I enjoyed your post very much.

    God Bless,
    Margie Scott


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    1. Thank you, Margie. I am happy to share the words that now mean more to me than they did before - and they meant a lot before.

      They touch my heart, too. I am so grateful I happened upon them during this anniversary time and God inspired me to do a blog post based around them.

      God bless you, too!
      Love,
      Lynn

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  5. What a beautiful post in remembrance of your mom, Lynn. I've felt a kinship to you ever since we "met" here in BlogLand. As soon as I started reading your words, I recognized that you must have lost your mom around the same time of year that I did. My mom passed from this life on March 14, 1973, when I was only 16 years old. I considered writing a post about that day but, alas, my inspiration to write continues to languish somewhere between my brain and my keyboard.

    I loved the words of wisdom she left behind in your scrapbook. What a gift! I hope you don't mind that I save those words on my computer. What a viewpoint! Now that's inspiration!

    Loved the picture too ... I have very few of my mom but the ones I have are treasures.

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    1. Lori - our kindred connection continues!

      Losing a parent to death is hard at any time. It is hard for me to imagine what it was like for you at age 16, right on the brink of your own adulthood.

      I'll pray that as you ponder a posting, that a sense of direction about what to say will come. Until it does - well, let it set for a while longer. I just "happened" upon this piece that my Mom had inscribed in my scrapbook or I would not have known what to say. What I mean is that there is a lot I could say, but wrapping it around the written inscription gave it a core. Had I not found it, I would not have posted anything and that was fine with me, as well.

      I am sure you ponder, from your vantage point of years, how much you would want your Mom to have experienced, who you have become, the milestones that she was never able to be present for. Perhaps a letter to her would set a tone? I can't say but I know that when the time is right ( whether the anniversary time of her death or Mother's Day or another time ), you will know it is right - just as I knew this time for me was "right".

      In the meantime, I am honored that you shared this part of your life with me - truly another very precious connection to add to our song book.

      Please - the words are for any who can be inspired by them. My Mom would feel privileged to know they were a piece of peace for you. I am just sorry I do not know the author - but inspiring they are. That we do know.

      Hugs to you during this anniversary month.
      Love,
      Lynn

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  6. Beautiful words your Mother shared and a beautiful post from you Lynn!
    Life is truly an adventure, and a gift - we do well to remember that.
    Blessings,
    Fiona

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    1. Thank you, Fiona - so grateful to hear that you appreciated these words as I surely loved sharing them!

      Love,
      Lynn

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  7. Wonderful post, Lynn...lovely words and memories...honoring your Mother with your gift of writing. LOVE!

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    1. Thank you, Athena!

      I am glad you stopped by to read it. A day will come - a ways beyond the grief so new for you - when you will write about your Mother. I know you will.

      Love, Lynn

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