What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Journey of Two Mothers

Today two mothers met who have never met in person before, and one of them was me. The other mother was someone who had a lot in common with me.  We have both lost an adult child to cancer. Not a club or sorority that very many mothers are rushing to join. But sadly, there are already way too many members.

Our meeting was a "God-Thing".  She is originally from Maine, and even though I have lived in Maine and my son who passed away was also from Maine, that is not how we met...or maybe in an indirect way it is. Several years ago I was looking at some information about a town in Maine on the internet and somehow clicked on a link that led to my friend's blog that she and her daughter were writing together. Here is a link to that blog:
http://ourjourneytogether-susan.blogspot.com/

Once I started to read I soon realized that we had a lot in common...my friend's daughter was about the same age as my son.  She had a very rare form of cancer, and so did my son, although they were different types of cancer...they were none the less deadly.  They were both married and each had one child.

My new friend and I are also Pastor's wives...and both of our husbands are retired. We both have three children, all born in the same years.  Oh, and she and I are very close in age.

Throughout the years that she and her daughter were writing their prayer requests, sharing the journey of struggling through the realities of living with cancer, I was also doing the same with my blog as I dealt with the reality of my son's journey with cancer. And we began to encourage one another through comments, prayers and even on facebook.  When my friend's daughter died two years ago this past November, I grieved with her. My heart was broken for her and her daughter's family.  I had prayed and hoped that somehow she would be healed, but that wasn't God's plan.
During the intervening time, my own son was continuing to fight his own battle, and I know my friend also prayed for him to be healed just as I did, but sadly, that wasn't God's plan. When my friend saw that my son had died six months ago, she messaged me that we needed to get together.  I replied that I hoped that day would come soon.

Oh, the other thing I forgot to tell you is that my friend has a home in Florida, which is also where I live.  And last week she contacted me and invited me to meet her in a community not too far away from where I live, as she would be passing through. I was delighted to accept that invitation. And so that brings us up to today.

What do two mothers who have so much in common do when they finally meet in person for the first time?  They hug. They smile. They talk. They pray. They almost cry...the tears were very close to the surface. They share their current concerns for their loved ones who have been left behind...our grandchildren, the widowed spouses of our children, our other immediate family members, husbands, other children who are also grieving the loss of their sibling. They share their stories of how they are dealing with the grief, and how they continue work through the sorrows on holidays and other events.
They encourage one another and hope that this new friendship will continue into the future. They take selfies:
My new friend and I.  Yes, I was having a bad hair day.
But everything else was wonderful. :)
They promise to stay in touch and continue to pray for one another.

That's the story of two mothers who have so much in common...and even though we don't like the reason we were brought together, we thank the Lord that He saw fit to allow our paths to cross.  We have both grown in our journey...grown in faith, grown in the ability to show empathy and compassion for others in similar circumstances. We've grown stronger.  Who knows how God will use this experience in the future? Maybe He has plans that we don't know about yet. But even if we never have the opportunity to meet again here on earth, we know that we will continue to carry that little place in our hearts for each other...because we both know that this was one of those God-appointed times....a "God-Thing."  And we WILL meet again, someday...where we will both enjoy a wonderful family reunion with our precious children who have gone on before us.  I have a feeling our "kids" were smiling down on us today.

I know there are many other mothers out there who have suffered such a great loss. Some of us have already connected on facebook and through blogging.  I encourage you today to continue to reach out to others.  Some of you have been an encouragement to me during the years that my son was fighting his battle with cancer...even though your child had already lost the fight...you went out of your way to share knowledge with me about the disease we were fighting and about ways to turn a negative thing into a way to help others.  I thank you for that. Your courage and strength was an inspiration to me. I hope that I can also be a help to others along the way. That is my prayer. May my son's journey not be in vain.

12 comments:

  1. What a precious post of how God brings together those whom He knows will encourage one another and pray for one another...yes, even when it is due to grief of losing an adult child. Love and hugs to you, Pam.

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    1. Thank you Dianna. God works in mysterious ways...and even in the hard times, we can see His hand in so many beautiful ways. You are another one of those 'beautiful ways'...So thankful for all of the friends God has given me throughout this journey. God bless you and yours today.

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  2. Oh my goodness, I am so glad this got to happen for both of you! What a gift! I am sure that you were uplifted by her as much as you helped her. This makes me so thankful for you and your lovely way of reaching out Pam.

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    1. Thank you Susie. I am truly thankful for the interesting and mysterious ways that God works to bring people together to encourage one another and further His ministry of love and compassion. You are another of the blessings God has brought into my life via the internet...and I hope someday that we will have such a wonderful meeting as well. Love to you today.

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  3. What a blessing,Pamela, that you two got to meet in person! Since she has a home in Florida also maybe there will be other opportunities for you to get together again. Isn't God Awesome!

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    1. Yes He is! Everyday I realize more and more what an awesome God we have. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Praying for you and yours. Have a very merry Christmas.

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  4. Pam. I am so glad you got to meet. This makes a very special day for you, a gift from God. I'm glad you took some pictures. Thank you for sharing this special day with us.

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    1. Thank you Cecilia...It was a gift from God, truly. God has ways of giving us comfort and encouragement when we need it most.

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  5. What a beautiful thing. I love that God orchestrated this so fully and completely, in pain and suffering so that you could become friends of the heart who understand what others can only glimpse.
    He is soo faithful to have given you each other! And allowed you to meet in this life--sweet!

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    1. Thank you Carolyn. It was truly a God-ordained event, and that is why it was so special. We both needed that time to share some of the thoughts and feelings we have both experienced that unless one has been there, they don't realize. And yet, God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends, like yourself, who have been a true encouragement and comfort all along the way. Thank you.

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  6. Hi Pam! God loves you both so much that he brought you together to allow you to talk and feel support and hopefully come to peace. I love hearing about meetings like this. You have so much in common! I think you now have a new friend for life. God is so good.
    I hope you will have a good Christmas season, as you navigate it without your loving son here on earth. I know he is with you, and is even more loving if that's even possible. God bless you and yours, and your new friend too.
    Blessings,
    Ceil

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    1. Yes, God is So good. He knows what we need exactly when we need it. And I count you and so many others here as special friends just as wonderful and valuable. So very thankful.

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