Overwhelmed by Love

Since my mom's passing, I've felt the love from everyone - near or far, who has expressed a thought a kind word, shared a gift, or given a hug.  The only appropriate thing I can find myself saying in response to all of this is, "I love you." I'm sure it catches some by surprise because this feeling and its expression surprised me.

I don't typically walk around expressing my love with every human interaction - but I do it now and I may never stop. It's like my mother was not supposed to die. She wasn't sickly. As my dad said, she never acted like she was sick. Her body may have been ill but her mind was well. She still talked and had that laugh. She read her Bible and other books daily. And she kept laughing. Until she couldn't anymore and then we knew; we all knew how sick she was.

My mom passed on Thursday. On Tuesday at the end of a family visit, my dad said..."I love you;" she responded, "I love you too."  I do believe this was the last thing she said because on Wednesday she was unresponsive. My mother loved my dad and all of her children; I'm picking up the baton and will continue to spread that love like she did. Her home going service was a testament to her love for others. Our family of eight grew by leaps and bounds because Mummy loved people and welcomed them into her heart and home. We were all better for it.

This void that is now here is filled with the love of those remaining. So don't be surprised if at the end of each conversation you hear me say, "I love you." Loving is part of what we are told to do anyhow and love, though not always easy in practice, was never meant to be complicated.  

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 

1 Peter 4:8 [NLT]

My mom is gone and I am sad. But even in this sadness, I'm forced to be a better person. I love you all.