Day One Hundred Twenty 2012

Some glad morning when this life is o'er,
I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away

I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone,
I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then,
I'll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end,
I'll fly away

My dear mother, Hampton Gailbreath Mabry, passed away this morning very peacefully.
Outside the nursing home, I saw this jet streaking across the sky, leaving its white vapor trail. And of course I thought of my mother flying away and I thought of this hymn, which I think is probably my most favorite. I'm hurt that she's not here with us any more, but comforted to know that she's at peace on 'God's celestial shore'.  I love you and miss you, Mom, more than I can say, but I'll be seeing you again someday.

Day One Hundred Nineteen 2012

It is a far, far better thing that I do,
than anything I have ever done;
it is a far, far, better rest that I go to,
than I have ever known.
-Charles Dickens

My family and I are sitting with our dear mother tonight in a nursing home, watching and waiting as she struggles to stay in this life, while her body insists that she's ready to leave and go on to the next and forever life. We'd love to keep her with us here. She's ready to fly away; she just doesn't know it yet.