Jesus Christ chose the way of the cross as payment for the sins of those he created. He was betrayed by the fickle crowd. Even his own disciples turned away from him in his hour of need, fearing the consequences of association.
The time around Easter is bittersweet for me. It is a time of rejoicing for Christians as we celebrate the risen Lord, but my sweet mama passed away on Good Friday ten years ago. The melancholy I often feel during this time of year is lifted when I see the sunny, yellow faces of the daffodils. They remind me of a specific time where God stepped in and gave me hope and grace when I needed it most.
Alzheimer's is the disease of long goodbyes...and its deadly tentacles stole my mother from me, bit by bit. Over a period of several years her personality changed drastically. Most days she recognized me, but I mourned the change of relationship. I became the parent, and she the child.
In January of 2005, Hospice told us my mother had three to six months to live. For anyone who has experienced making end of life decisions for a loved one, it is heartbreaking. We had no doubts of her faith in God, or that He was waiting for her in heaven with open arms, but still...she was a much-loved wife and mother.
In mid March, Mom still lingered, growing thinner and weaker each day. Sadness overshadowed everything in life. Physically and emotionally spent, I felt no joy. Spring had arrived and I hadn't even noticed. Returning from the nursing home one afternoon, there they were..literally hundreds of daffodils in our next door neighbor's yard.
First a thought, then a tiny prayer..."God, I would love to have some daffodils. They are so beautiful." The next day, there was a knock at the door. My husband answered, returning with (you guessed it) a huge bouquet of yellow daffodils! I couldn't believe it! Of course I cried, wondering how this could be possible. I told no one but God how much I wanted daffodils. But in His love..oh in His love and compassion for his child, He whispered my secret to the little girl next door. Two weeks later, my mother died on Good Friday and spent her first Easter in heaven.
Since that day ten years ago, daffodils have new meaning for me. Of course, I now have them in my own flower garden. I watch for their green stalks to break through the cold ground of winter. I know that soon their blooms will bring beauty and color to my world. They are a visual reminder of God's personal love and care for me..even in the seemingly unimportant, trivial aspects of my life. But more importantly, they symbolize salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He lives...I have assurance of life after death, reunited with loved ones who have gone before, and to see my Redeemer..face-to-face!
Copyright 2015
Charlotte Laney
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