A Lesson in Mortality 101

A Lesson in Mortality 101

A few weeks ago my mom was diagnosed with liver cancer. This week we learned that it had progressed past the point of surgery. Although there are some other treatments available, surgery would have been the best course of action. In talking to my mom after the surgeons made the final decision, I was amazed at her wisdom and grace on the entire process.
While she could have been angry with the doctor who missed the diagnosis for approximately two years, instead she said she feels blessed to know that she has lived the past two years without any symptoms.
Instead of being upset that the surgeons can’t do the surgery, she has determined that she won’t have to go through the time in the hospital away from her family for an operation that has a small chance of being successful.
Rather than questioning why this has happened to her, she has decided that it is exactly what was supposed to happen to her: “After all,” she said, “Our days are numbered while we are yet in our mother’s womb.”
After overcoming colon cancer 11 years ago, (which the doctors agree was the source of this cancer), she does not question why the doctors then did not recommend radiation or other treatment. Instead she said the last 11 years are a gift from God.
One of the greatest joys, and in fact one of the main reasons, that Christians dedicate their lives to Christ, is for the eternal life that follows this one. My mother has a great amount of faith. She said it will be hard to leave all of us behind, but she can’t wait to see her mom and dad. She believes she will go to sleep in this world and wake up in one that is far greater than anything we can imagine.
Mom’s faith is strong, and her four daughters, of whom I am the second in age rankings, are consistent. But I can assure you we are not anxious for the reunion she will experience on the other side. I know that death is part of living and we must all face it, but it is never at a time when we are ready to let go.
I think back to the conversation of a friend of mine who was sitting with his friend, knowing that his days were nearing an end. He asked his friend, “How does it feel to know that you are going to die?” to which his friend replied, “How does it feel to pretend you are not?”
That pretty much sums up the course of all our lives. We live here, we enjoy everyday as it is given to us, we make the most of the situations, strive to be the best that we can possibly be, and focus our love on our families and our God in hopes that all of the effort we put forth will be for a reason far greater than we can imagine in our next life.
Faith, grace, hope, wisdom and comfort are the things I will be relying on over the next months. Because Mom is quite acceptant of her fate, we must be also and rejoice in the fact that she will never be “lost” to us. I will never have to tell anyone “I lost my mother.” We know exactly where she will be.