ALIENS AND STRANGERS

She’s ninety-five years old

with her brilliant head still

resting on bent shoulders.

My Elfin mom, always a petite

stunner at four foot' ten"...

She never belonged here, was

always a deeper soul, wiser and

better than we could ever deserve

But that’s how God works.

Her quiet Joy through all things was

the perfect gift, a kind of manna

to sustain and share with us. It fed

her through The Great Depression,

World War Two, and three sons to

raise so she would have plenty of

good reasons to pray.

And she has.

Long and fervently.

Every day

And saved us all from evils

we don’t even know.

I’ve called fairly often from

halfway across the continent.

We don’t have much to say.

"Hey, mom, whatcha doin’?

“Oh, you know, I just finished

my prayers. I’ll be getting lunch

ready in a minute, how are you”

“I’m fine, just wanted to hear

your voice, tell you I wish I hadn’t

moved so far away.”

“I know, I miss you, too…”

And so it goes.

Or went.

Her painful knees, dulled

hearing, and macro degeneration

have kept her down for a couple

of years now, but it didn’t stop

her from finishing her second

book. She says...

“There is none but God, only

He is Eternal. That He deigns to

walk with mankind is incredible

in its concept, and overwhelming

in its love.”

(Aliens and Strangers, p. 21)

She knows what she is talking about.

She’s seen it all, from the soft beauty

of great love to the knives of

heartbreak, and betrayal, but

never left the top of her mountain

and has always been a treasure of

insight and deep, well-earned wisdom.

She entered hospice care this week,

and I know she’ll leave us soon.

Don’t get me wrong, I know what

happens next… We, my brothers,

and all her beautiful progeny, will

cry for ourselves, and the empty

place she left behind.

We know she didn’t belong here,

and she taught us we don’t either;

gave us the sure knowledge that

in a dark and evil world, we will

always be Aliens and Strangers.

Beyond here is our true home, where

everything becomes crystal clear

and tears are impossible.

I like to think that being in 

the presence of God must be

like Tolkien described it...

“The journey doesn't end here.

Death is just another path,

one that we all must take.

The grey rain-curtain of this world

rolls back, and all turns to silver glass,

and then you see it, White shores,

and beyond, a far green country

under a swift sunrise."

Author's Note

My mom published her second book "Aliens and Strangers" in early 2024. It is a wonderful guide for new Christians and explains many of the things newbies usually have to find out the hard way. a few months later, her health took a dramatic plunge and she entered hospice care. And recovered. And kept her dignity. Her mind at 96 is a razor... but, she's slowly diminishing. And what a great loss she will be, of the wide extended family of my aunts and uncles she is the only one left. Her generation made me, and kept making me until just these last years when they have died. This might be her last Mother's Day... My tribute...

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

A very nice offering for Mothers Day here. All of us should have had such mothers, Vol, and you have every right to count your blessings. Of course you will feel the void when she leaves, but few can claim better times in this place than she had.

[Dessi]

Happy Mothers Day, Volcano's mom.
When my mom passed she said, "Don't cry for me. I have simply stepped into a different dimension. I will always be with you."
I believe that, Vol. Mom will always be with her kids. Sometimes you will still see, hear and feel her with you. As long as there is LIFE there is HOPE. LIFE IS ETERNAL. Hugs, Darling.

[MCS]

A beautiful tribute to an amazing strong woman. I cried as I read these words. I’m missing my mom today.

[Vol]

She carried a ton of power in that tiny frame...