Advent Day 4 – Wednesday, November 29
In September 2005, my mother-in-law, Alice Jahr, had become ill and was in the hospital for a short stay. On one of my daily visits to see her, she told me that she had seen such a bright light; the brightest light she had ever seen. Here I was in her room, checking all of the lights and lamps looking for this bright light, but I couldn’t find it. She then told me that he had spoken to her and that he was coming for her on a Monday, but she was fuzzy as to which Monday.
A few days later, it was a Monday and she was having a really bad day. I thought for sure this was the end of her life, but it wasn’t. (After her hospital stay, Mom moved into a nursing home. She went on to live until November 7, 2005, exactly 12 years ago as I write this.)
On that day Mom asked me if it was a Monday, and it was. After her wonderful husband, Lowell, left for home after being with Mom all day, as he always did during her nursing home stay, Mom asked me to stay. She wanted me to lay her on the cold floor.
I said, “Let’s sit on your bed.” I put my arm around her and held her hand. She whispered in my ear, “I am going now. Bye-bye, bye.” She died right in my arms. I held her for a time, then had a nurse come in to check on her. She confirmed that Mom had passed.
Mom knew where she was going, and she had no hesitation on leaving. She was ready with open arms, she was at peace, and she was running into heaven. She truly lived a life of faith.
It feels just like yesterday that I experienced this amazing testimony of faith. I am so honored and humbled to have known and loved this beautiful woman. As I was born in England, she taught me so many things as I became a member of the Jahr family in this great country of the United States of America.
Madeleine Jahr