Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.
There many days that stand out in our minds. They made history. They are important to remember. They are long gone but stick around on our
calendars and in our minds. Here are
some of those dates:
December 7,
1941 --- the attack on Pearl Harbor
September
11, 2001 --- terrorist attack crashing the World Trade Center
November
22, 1963 --- President John F. Kennedy was killed
January 28,
1986 --- space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff
October 4,
1941 --- day my mom was born
The last one might not be in your memory as it is in
mine. I wasn’t there, but my life was
impacted big time that day. My mom has
helped shape my life. Her prayers and
support have meant much to me. In fact
of all the people who have pulled for me my parents, both my mom and dad, are
at the top of the list.
Most of you know that the last few weeks have been
very difficult for our family, but we are blessed in so many ways. I ask that you continue to pray for my mom as
her health continues to decline and pray for my dad and my brothers as they
help care for my mom. It really is hard
to be 1,100 miles away in times like this.
12 days ago I got a call from my dad, and he shared
that my mom’s health was critical. I
immediately flew to Oklahoma to be with my family. It was so difficult that my dad and I were at
the funeral home that Thursday morning planning for her memorial service that
seemed imminent.
But Friday morning changed things. My brother Steve had stayed at the hospital
overnight with mom, and early Friday morning she woke up. I stayed at the hospital the next night, and
about the same time Saturday morning mom was even more awake.
Those were blessed days as we thought mom would not
make it through the day, but my family enjoyed more time, conversations,
crying, laughing and so much more. Those
were special times as we talked about the past and the future. We talked about heaven and our faith. We talked about our family and how God has
been so good to us.
It was this past Tuesday that it became evident that
mom’s health was not improving and she was growing even more tired. My mom made the choice to discontinue her
treatment and enter hospice. Her
diagnosis is a swelling of the brain that was being held off by very high doses
of steroids. Now that steroids have been
removed as has physical therapy the doctor says the days to come are going to
be tough as she will most likely go back in to an unconscious state. I can tell you that this time has been very
tough, but our family will also remind you that we have been blessed.
Today is my mom’s 74th birthday. Many people have sent cards of encouragement
and birthday greetings, and for that I am very grateful. Yesterday at The Community Fellowship our
church family gathered around me, my wife and our kids to pray for us. That was very special. I am grateful.
Judy Harrison, my precious mom, is an awesome
lady. I want to tell the world today how
much I love her. Further, I want to
honor her. Her faith has been so strong
through my 45 years of life. She has put
up with my struggles and poor choices.
She has celebrated my successes and help us enjoy my wedding and the
birth of our kids. My brothers have been
through much the same.
I do remind you, each of us, to cherish the time we
have with those that we love. We never
know when we might lose one of them. The
days and weeks ahead will be difficult for our family, and I will be back in
Oklahoma sometime soon.
Happy birthday, mom, and I pray we will get to talk
for a few minutes today. You are an
amazing woman, and I love you very much!
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman
who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
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