NOTE: I originally wrote this on May 7, 2013. I can honestly say I still feel this every time I put on that sweater. No wonder I find myself wearing it often. Read on....
May 7, 2013:
Do you ever long to just be close again to someone you loved so much...? I know I do. My Mama left this world for a far better place seven years ago today. (2018 = 12 years ago today!) I still have to pinch myself when I realize that it has been that long already...and yet she still seems so near. Only those who have experienced this understand what I mean.
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| Dorothea May Tedlie Mursch January 6, 1917-May 7, 2006 This picture taken in 1987 at age 70 |
As you can see by the picture above and these others, my Mama was a beautiful woman...even at such a great age as 87, as seen in this picture below, which was taken on her 87th birthday. That's me on the left, and my sister Doris on the right. You can tell we are all related by the cheekbones, right? Yeah, that's the Tedlie claim to fame...we get our cheekbones from our Mama, and her Mama, Flora Sheets Tedlie.
She was beautiful too. But this is about my Mama.
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| Mama and her girls on her 87th birthday |
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 Mama and her girls on Mother's Day 2003 |
(See "Flowers for Mama", originally written in 2010, and updated each year)
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| Me, Remembering Mama tonight (2013) (notice the sweater) |
Anyway, on this particular morning I grabbed that sweater off the hanger and quickly put it on as I was running late to get to work. (What else is new?) As I settled into the driver's seat in the car, adjusting the defroster, the radio, and my seat, I suddenly had this wonderful feeling of warmth...a soft comforting warmth enveloped my body...and my heart. My Mama's sweater wrapped around me and caressed me with her love. I felt it. It was almost as if Mama was right there in my sweater with me, holding me close, cradling me in her arms so tenderly once again. I felt it. I knew it. I was overwhelmed with the sense of her presence. It was a tender, loving, embrace straight from heaven. Yeah, I know it was just her sweater...but it was more than that. It was a tangible part of my memories of her...and it gave me tremendous comfort. I found myself wanting to talk with her again and just tell her how much I loved her...and I thanked her for touching me with her "presence" once again. I also thanked the Lord for allowing me that little "kiss" from heaven. He knew that I needed it in more ways than one at that particular moment. Essentially, it was a gift from God, sent especially to me...a reminder of His divine Presence in my life.
I hope you won't misunderstand these thoughts and think I'm some kind of kook. I really don't care if you do think that. (probably won't be the first time...or the last!) This is what happened, and it brought such peace and joy to my heart. God knows what we need and He can choose to bless us any way He wants.
Perhaps you have had such "kisses from heaven" as well. My thought is that when something like this happens...
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
Your kookiness is as important a part of you as your amazing cheekbones my friend. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThis post feels like a warm sweater around the shoulders...just lovely and comforting and truly sweet. Happy Mother's Day Pamela!
Thank you, my dear kookie comrade! I knew you'd understand.
DeleteHappy Mother's Day to you as well. ((((hugs))))
God allowed her to send you those warm feelings. They both love you a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that affirmation. I believe that God does do special things for us...just because He wants to bless us and touch our hearts with His compassion. I am very thankful for the blessing...for certain.
DeleteSweet and dear. It's amazing how something material that belonged to a beloved can comfort and make us feel their presence. I have a t-shirt from my daddy's that I wore home from his memorial service and take with me on every trip I've taken since he died almost 14 years ago. I don't know if I'd call it a 'kiss from heaven' but it definitely makes him feel close, even now that it's become far more ragged in my possession than it was in his. Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you shared that with me. I guess it takes having such a bond to understand it when others experience it as well. We have a wonderful Lord, Who loves to comfort us in such special ways. He understands our needs.
DeleteThank you.
I definitely don't think you are "kook", dear Pam. I know you are a sweet compassionate lady who loves the Lord. I do understand how special it made you feel that morning when you had your Mama's sweater on. I have a sweater that my mom gave me (and my mom is still alive) and I find myself going for that sweater more often than any other that hangs in my closet because it once belonged to my mom.
ReplyDeleteAnd who knows better than anyone when we need that extra tender nudge...the One who sent you that heavenly kiss that morning.
Hugs to you, my friend.
Dianna
Yes...I know it was God comforting me by giving me something sweet and familiar just when I needed it most. Isn't it wonderful how God works in such tender and compassionate ways to show us His love? We are so blessed. Happy Mother's Day!
DeleteI also had one of Mom's sweaters (a black one just like your white one), that I wore to church and mistakenly left in the choir room. By the time I remembered where it was, someone had taken it and sold it in our church thrift sale! I still want to cry when I think about it! I just pray that whoever has it now really needed it and is unexpectedly feeling blessed! Now I wear some of Mama's shoes to church nearly every Sunday----and I won't forget them!!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your sweater. That's a shame. But your feet should feel comfy in her shoes...and hopefully you won't leave them at church! LOL. Happy Mother's Day sweet sister!
DeleteBy the way, this is Doris----not Art!! lol!!
ReplyDeleteI hope so. I can't imagine Art wearing Mom's sweater or shoes! :)
DeleteYou had a beautiful Mother, Pamela. I too miss my Mother and from time to time feel her love and closeness. Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sylvia. I pray your Mother's Day is filled with love and joy. You have such a sweet family. You are blessed.
DeleteI do not think you are a kook at all, and have experienced kisses from heaven too! I think God knows when we need something and sends it our way in different forms. Happy Sunday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for understanding! It is just a foretaste of the true joy and love we will feel when we finally reach heaven's shores. Eternal "kisses from heaven" from the Heavenly Bridegroom Himself!
DeletePam, thank you for resharing this beautiful and thoughtful post. Moms are special people, even when we've had difficult relationships with them.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I think that is very beautiful, how God comforted you with your Mother's sweater. I know my children and I had similar experiences when my youngest son died. I will remember the prayer request you mentioned to me. People watch how the Lord comforts us in hard times and even in grief and sorrow. It is a witness and an encouragement to others.
ReplyDeleteHi Pamela, I enjoyed my visit here to night! Your mom was very beautiful and you were lucky to have her so long. I lost my mom in May 2010 and she was only 75 and died of Alzheimers. I miss her a lot! I totally understand the hot and cold aspect. I have robe of hers I wear and a sweater. So glad you got to experience kisses from heaven! I just added a lot of pictures to my blog and I won't be leaving mine for awhile and if I do, I will go to Blogger. Have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteGod can and does surround us with His peace and comfort in the most unexpected ways - in your case, a most personal and loving way, Pamela. Your mother was, indeed, a beautiful woman, inside and out! Thank you for sharing this special memory with us - with Mothers' Day right around the corner, it is the perfect message.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Precious post. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI cried when I read this, Pam. I miss my mom so much. It's hard to believe that it has been a little less than 3 months. What a precious post. I have some of Mom's things packed away and will be getting them out when I move into my permanent place. Thank you for sharing your heart.
ReplyDelete((((HUGS)))) to you, Melanie, as I know this Mother's Day will be difficult for you in many ways, and yet wonderful for you that you will be with your children and grandchildren? May the Lord comfort you as you continue to grieve for your dear mother. You've been through SO much this past year...my heart goes out to you. I pray that you are now on a beautiful new chapter of your life, and that God will bless you and keep you and strengthen you for the joy that is set before you!!! Have a blessed and wonderful Mother's Day. Your mother will be smiling from heaven. She may even send you a special hug/kiss from heaven...
Delete"It was almost as if Mama was right there in my sweater with me, holding me close, cradling me in her arms so tenderly once again."
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're a kook. This was beautiful!
:) hi, me from a year ago!
DeleteMy sweet Friend, I understand completely...and neither of us are kooks (well, not you at least). I have one of Mamaw's white sweaters, too, that I kept. And she loved to wear those house dresses and I have one on as I type this. We have yet another thing in common that 2 ladies who are so very precious now are with Jesus...and on the same date at that! Prayers for you today, but lots and lots of sweet memories to hold near and dear to your heart. <3
ReplyDeleteYour Mother is beautiful and your story about her sweater is beautiful. My son had a very comforting experience after the death of his little brother. God is so good!
ReplyDeleteYour mother was a beautiful woman. You and I have this day in common. My father died on May 7, 1986 (this is the 32nd anniversary of his death).
ReplyDeleteMay the sweet memories of our dear ones stay with us forever.
How precious to read. This made me smile and tear up. Oh dear lady, they can just call us kookie together. I call this a God story and only GOD could have done that for you with that precious sweater. The Lord does sweet little things like that for us and most often it is just when we need it most. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDelete"I hope you won't misunderstand these thoughts and think I'm some kind of kook."
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed to read this. I thought for sure you were one of us! ;-)
Your story reminds me of a time shortly after my Dad passed. I was sitting on my back deck thinking about him when suddenly I just imagined him sitting next to me just grinning and laughing. It was like I imagined it, but also like I saw it really. (See? One of us!) Now my Dad was not a giggling, grinning man in life. At least not until he got older. But he was still very serious, even then. It was a good feeling to "see" that and I believe he is happy. Your mom's comfort reached you even there in your car. Was it memory? Was it a gift from God? Well, I don't know, but I do know these moments mean the world to us.
Thank you for sharing this again, Pam. Your mom was a beautiful lady--beautiful on the inside and outside (you are too!)!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
A sweet post today. I miss my Mother who died when I was 34 years old....a long time ago. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteI feel you Dear,
ReplyDeletesince my mother passed away
it seems that there is a hole in my heart
that nobody can fill.
Ann
https://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com/
Beautiful tribute to your Mom Pamela. I too lost my Mom years ago and still miss her very much. She was my best friend. But, I know we'll meet again in time. Have a day of blessings dear Pamela.
ReplyDelete