My mother, Nancy, passed away 13 years ago today from pancreatic cancer.  I had the privilege of writing on her Caringbridge site throughout the last months of her life and that is the last time I wrote consistently for others to read until recently.  These last weeks, we have focused on Romans 12:9-21, taking one command at a time.  Today we will focus on hospitality.  Here are the verses that we have covered so far:

Romans 12:9-13 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

What does it mean to be hospitable? The definition of hospitality, according to Oxford’s dictionary is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.”

My mother was a woman who sought to show hospitality.  She loved every aspect of having people come into our home.  She was ready for guests invited in advance, she was ready for visitors to drop in, and she was welcoming to strangers like the Avon lady new to town.  My mother was a wonderful cook and often cooked in advance so that she had something good to pull out at a moment’s notice.  She liked to be prepared for the unexpected.  One of these unexpected times happened on the day she died. Even in her dying, she was hospitable because she had sought after that many months before.  Below are the two Caringbridge posts that I wrote on the day she died that will explain this.

August 18, 2007 – Early Evening

Dear family and friends,

I know that many of you are waiting for news about my mother. It is just a few minutes before 8 PM and my mother is still with us, just barely. This has been a long day, but very sweet. Jennie and Jay came this afternoon with little Olivia. We just finished a beautiful roast beef dinner that my mother had made and frozen several months ago. What precious timing! My mother often said that God is in every detail of our lives, we have seen that over and over throughout this time and again tonight.

So, we wait, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. I think I have shared this scripture before and I will share it again because it is what is coming to mind. 

Isaiah 40:28-31

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

We, as a family, are faint (tired) and we have no might (exhausted), but we know that God promises to increase our strength as we wait upon Him. His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in our weakness. (II Corinthians 12:9) “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak and He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” I just realized again what a precious truth that is.

I will keep you posted through the night. Please pray for us.

In Christ’s strength,

Heather on behalf of all

August 18, 2007 – Late Evening

Dear family and friends,

At 10 PM my dad, Jennie, Aunt Sandy, and I went into my mother’s room to pray over her. Then we began to sing. We sang many hymns that my mother loved. While we were singing, ‘How Great Thou Art,’ her breathing slowed down to nothing. We immediately began to sing ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ and she breathed her last. It felt as if we were singing in unison with a heavenly host of angels ushering her into heaven. She is now with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! She died at 10:45 PM, August 18. I am sure that Jesus’ words to her were, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

The emotions are wide at the moment. I will write more in the days ahead with details of the reviewal and funeral.

We love each and every one of you and know that God used you and will continue to use you as instruments in His hands.

In Christ’s perfect love, Heather on behalf of all

“Oh Lord, my God,

When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all they worlds thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul

My Savior, God to Thee

How Great Thou Art,

How Great Thou Art,

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God to Thee,

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

The Lord is, at this moment, preparing a place for us who are trusting Him for our salvation.  He is in the business of seeking to be hospitable.  If He is doing this at this moment for us, how much more should we seek this in our own lives. Let’s encourage one another and seek to show hospitality.

Blessings to you,

Heather 

When You Pray…

Each day: 

1. Pray for yourself.
2. Pray for you spouse.
3. Pray for your children.

Weekly:

Sunday – Government

Monday – Immediate Family

Tuesday – Your Church 

Wednesday – Your Extended Family

Thursday – Your Spouse’s Extended Family

Friday – Your Friends

Saturday – Variety

Feel free to go back and review in more detail the weekly prayer points.

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