Can't shake it

Ever have a time when you hear or read something and you just can't shake it?  This is happening to me right now.  I cannot get a few things my preacher said this weekend out of my head.  (Wouldn't he appreciate knowing this, that I do actually pay attention sometimes...ha!)

Our preacher's mother suffered a stroke and a heart attack a few days ago.  The family was told her chances of improving were less than 1%.  Less than 1%.  That's not a lot to hang your hat on. 

Before church on Sunday I checked Facebook and my email to see if there had been updates from him concerning her condition because the night before he filled us in on that bit of information above.  I saw his status and it went something like this, "My mother improved around midnight.  She went to be with Jesus." 

That has to be one of the best Facebook statuses I have ever read, obviously not because his mother passed, but because of the way he looked at it.  After all, being with Jesus should be our ultimate goal, and she had achieved hers.  Hallelujah!

Then later that morning at church, he told us about the prayer he sent up for his mother the day before, (and I'm paraphrasing), "Jesus, if I can't have her back the way she was, just take her."  Wow.  I can imagine that being a very difficult prayer to whisper, but what an honest plea.   

I have written several times on perspective, looking for the silver lining and choices.  To me, this was another example of having the right perspective on something, making the best out of a bad situation, choosing to see the good, etc.  I started to think, well, he is a preacher, he would think that way...on the other hand, he is a son who was losing his mother.  I don't think it matters who you are, that has to hurt.

I didn't know his mother, but she sounds like she had a great sense of humor.  I'm sure that she will be missed here on earth, but won't they be thrilled to have her around in heaven?  I hope she finds our Mona from Willow Creek...they will have a ball.