Visit Seventy-seven –(2004 Mother’s Day Story)
It is a cool spring morning in May as members and guests of the white chapel make their way to celebrate a special group of people. This service has been planned to say thank you to those unique women called Mothers.
As they enter the chapel, the members see various pots containing roses and other brightly colored flowers sitting on the window ledges and across the front of the sanctuary. In a short time, the brightly decorated chapel begins to fill with worshipers looking forward to the music, special chalk drawing and sermon of the pastor and the covered-dish lunch after the service.
A little girl, who appears about four years old, is unnoticed among the crowd as she enters through the back door of the chapel and turns to the right. She slips through the open door of the prayer room and climbs onto a tall stool next to the open door. She has an unobstructed view of the podium and choir.
Holly is wearing a pretty, red dress and black-patent shoes. A small red corsage has been pinned to her dress as a tribute to her mother.
Everyone is taking their seats in the church pews. Good friends and acquaintances are greeting each other and discussions about the latest events in their lives takes place. Children are anxious and looking forward to the cake and ice cream that will be served after the service.
Cory’s mother is talking to his aunt. They are sitting in the back pew and Cory is sitting in the isle seat next to the wall. A big person is sitting in front of him and Cory cannot see. He looks back and sees Holly sitting on the stool in the back room.
He leans next to his mother’s ear trying to get her attention, “Mom… mom… I’m going to sit with Holly so I can see.” His mother turns toward him and smiles, but doesn’t say anything. She returns to her conversation with his aunt.
Cory gets up from his seat and goes to the prayer room. He says, “Hi, Holly. Can I sit with you?”
“Sure, Cory… Take this other stool. You can see really, really good.” As he climbs onto the stool, Holly continues, “I didn’t think I would see you here, Cory.”
“I like seeing Brother Al’s drawings and all the people.”
The music has started and the sounds of worship fill the little chapel. The children’s sermon about Jesus’ mother, Mary, is presented by Michelle. Flower awards are given to various mothers for the: oldest, youngest and most children categories of mothers.
The music minister has chosen a number of familiar hymns to accompany the pastor’s chalk drawing. His picture soon evolves into a meaningful scriptural message involving a lighted candle, a child and a mother.
The pastor begins his sermon, “The world was shrouded in the darkness of sin. Because of God’s love, He sent the ‘light of the world’, His Son, Jesus, to redeem our souls from hell and make a way for our return to Him. The candle in the picture represents this light that can change our lives. It is God’s gift to a dying world.”
God gives us another gift… the gift of a child. The entrance of a child into our lives changes us forever. We have an awesome responsibility to introduce this gift to the Giver of life. That’s where our mother’s take center stage. Our mother’s love and nurturing provide the base on which God can build a bridge to rescue a lost soul from certain everlasting death.
. Holly whispers to Cory, “Let’s go outside before the service is over. I want to show you something.”
Cory says, “Okay… But I’ve got to tell Mother… I’ll be right back.” He gets off his stool and runs to the pew where his mother is sitting. He leans over and whispers in her ear. He kisses her on her cheek and runs back to where Holly is standing. He says, “Let’s go, Holly.”
The two children start out the front door as the pastor makes an invitation to anyone to accept Jesus Christ as their savior. Cory pauses before shutting the door. The congregation is singing a familiar hymn and Cory watches as his mother moves down the isle in response to the pastor’s plea.
The two children run down the front
steps and head to a small group of trees and benches next to the church. Holly pulls a blossom from one of the trees
and shows it to Cory. She says, “See,
Cory… this is a Dogwood tree blossom.
See the three red dots… Mother says this blossom is God’s reminder of
the three crosses and Jesus dying for us.”
Cory says, “I know, Holly… I was with you when she told us… remember?”
“Oh… yeah. I remember.”
“Holly Renee Blessing! Why didn’t you sit with us? Maggie said she saw you in the back. I saved you a place down near the front.” Holly turns as her mother approaches.
Holly says, “I was in our hiding place in the back, Mom. I told you I would be there when we got out of the car.”
“I didn’t hear you say that, young lady. This was something we should do as a family. I really wanted you to sit with me today.”
“Mom… I was with Cory. We saw the whole service and then came out here so I could show him the Dogwood blossoms like we did last year.”
“Don’t give me that, Holly. You know Cory went to heaven two months ago.”
“I know, Mother, but Cory was here with me this morning.
“Jeannie! Jeannie, can I speak with you?”
Holly’s mother turns to see Cory’s mother approaching. She says, “Why yes, Peggy. Can I help you?”
“When Cory was saved last year, I was upset. I let him go to church with your family and you told him about Jesus. That caused a lot of problems in our family. He accepted Jesus soon afterward. Then Cory started asking me if I knew Jesus… he kept after me and finally I told him to quit bothering me… I would accept Jesus when I was ready. When Cory died…” Tears start down her face and she reaches for a handkerchief.
She composes herself and continues, “I took it out on Holly and your family. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for saying what I did… I haven’t had any peace since Cory died. I wanted you to know that I accepted Jesus this morning. And I felt that Cory was with me and I could even hear him saying, like he use to, that I needed to get right with Jesus. You’ll think I’m crazy, but I even thought Cory kissed me on the cheek in the service. I am at peace now and so very happy.”
“Thank you for all you have done for Cory and me. Because of your concern for Cory, he is in heaven now and I’ll get to see him again. Your love started something that changed the destiny of two people. Thank you… so, so much.”
“You’re welcome, Peggy. But…Holly and I… we didn’t want to go to heaven and have Jesus ask us why we didn’t care for Cory’s soul. We had to tell him about Jesus… God did the rest.”
Jeannie turns to Holly and says, “I’m sorry for doubting you, Holly.” She bends down and takes Holly in her arms and gives her a big hug.
Holly says, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! A pretty good present, huh?”
Her mother says, “You bet, Holly… the very best present ever.”
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Cory is sitting in Jesus’ lap. Cory asks, “Mom will be coming to be with us… right, Jesus?”
Jesus hugs his adopted son and replies, “Yes, Cory. Because of your love and the love of those around her, your mother made the decision to accept Father’s gift of eternity. She will be here with us some day.
“That’s awesome, Jesus! Say, Jesus… The guys are getting together for a game. Want to play some baseball?”
“You bet, Cory… let’s go!”
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