Matt. 9:27-34. Mute and in the dark.
When my mother died last November she was cremated. I knew that her wish was to have her ashes put in the St. Lawrence river where she and my stepfather had boated for thirty years. The dockyard where they kept their boat is in a beautiful region of the river called the Thousand Islands. I also knew that the law in Canada forbade the scattering of ashes in a river, lake or ocean. But the law changed last year and so my motheramprsquos death wish would be granted. In a ceremony next June, we will put my motheramprsquos ashes in her beloved river.
When I learned this I wrote to my youngest daughter Tess to invite her to join me and her Canadian relatives in the ceremony. I hoped she would agree because we have been estranged for three years for reasons that are my fault. She wonamprsquot answer my calls and rarely answers my emails. She did send her brief condolences on learning of my motheramprsquos death but then nothing until today.
I had waited in the dark for three months for her answer. My actions towards my daughter made her mute to me. Our lack of communication has made me blind to her life. Except for one financial problem with her mother, I know nothing of her life since she last visited me three years ago. I have been in the dark praying for her salvation every day.
Today I received my daughteramprsquos answer to my invitation to join the family and scatter my motheramprsquos ashes. She said she would come and meet everyone that she has not seen for many years. I praised God.
Through my motheramprsquos death, God has brought about three healings. First, my motheramprsquos salvation because I believe she kept her promise to me to call out to Jesus at the end. Second, on reflecting on my motheramprsquos long marriage, on keeping her marriage contract for forty-nine years, my wife repented of her intention to divorce me. And third, my alienated daughter has agreed to meet me at last and join her Canadian family in sharing our love for my mother and a final farewell to her earthly remains during which I will be able to share Jesus. Praise the Lord!
Application: share the news of my daughteramprsquos joining us for the farewell to my mother and give the glory to God.
Lord, let me not be fearful in my failure to see and inability to speak, but let me trust in you to bring your healing into my life.
