I did not get to have a mother-in-law around for very long. I know there are tons of jokes (and non-jokes) about relationships with in-laws. Some might say it isn’t a horribly bad thing, but I consider it a great loss. My time with a mother-in-law was too short.
My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly on May 8. She was 56 years old. She had the flu (Influenza B).
You don’t expect someone to die from the flu. Who does, these days, anyways?
Even though I’m a doctor and my wife is a nurse, we didn’t expect this outcome.
Two days before her passing, I told my mother-in-law, “The flu kills people.” I was trying to stress the importance of taking the flu seriously. I wanted her to be drinking her fluids and staying hydrated.
As a husband, I found that the hardest part was watching my wife in so much pain. Feeling helpless, I could do nothing more than just be near her. Wishing I could say more but realizing that there were no words that could fix it, I sat silently with her.
A week after her passing we had a service for her. The outpouring of support was incredibly moving. The family asked if I would take part in service as we celebrated her life.
Before the prayer I shared this verse from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 with the audience and my family:
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Growing up in the church I frequently took part in services. I don’t remember ever writing out a prayer. Sure, I’d think ahead about what to pray about. I’d think about the topic and even come up with certain phrases I wanted to mention.
But for this service I actually composed my prayer. Intentionally, I wanted to pray a prayer that expressed feelings and thoughts inside. Almost a week after the service, it is still the prayer I push up to God in prayer.
Oh, God. It hurts. As we experience these darkest of days, make Your presence known. Give us Your peace. Embrace us in Your love. And comfort us with Your Spirit. As we move forward and pick up the shattered, scattered pieces, help us to know that You are with us — that we can pick up the pieces together. Help us to remember that You are God, that you are good, and that you are still God With Us. As we go from this place today, strengthen our souls. Keep us safe in Your arms. And help us to remain faithful to you. So that on that great and glorious day, when the trumpet sounds and the clouds be rolled back and Jesus triumphantly returns to wake up His sleeping saints — we will be reunited on that bright Resurrection day.
I did not get to have a mother-in-law around for very long.
That time, though, was too short.
