I consider myself very privileged to have had Mummy as my mother. I had the special privilege of not only sharing most of Mummy’s 1st name, but also her birthday (Janet & Jane). She always said the “t” in her name stood for the difference in time. I think it also stood for the trials & tribulations unique to Mummy. As she said during her last days, “It’s been a long journey!”
I also had the privilege of staying with Mummy for 2 years after Daddy passed away as well as the privilege of having Mummy live with us in Chennai the last 2 years of her life. I would say, though she was far away from “home” the last 2 years, she enjoyed the best days of her life, free of worry, concerns, fears, and anxieties. She kept herself busy with Bible Studies, calling and keeping in touch with everyone, praying for and ministering to simple people like our maids. We were also privileged to be able to host her 80th birthday celebration at home, and many loved ones were able to come to honour and thank her on her special birthday.
Mummy was known to be unique, whether it was her style of wearing her saree, her hairstyle, or the way she spoke. She was an incredibly beautiful and stylish woman, right from her young days, both on the inside and out.
I really appreciate Mummy because she worked so hard to support the family. Even at times when Daddy was unable to get a salary because he himself was sick or he retired voluntarily because of his health, it was Mummy who supported all of us. She worked hard and made sure that we as children studied and did well. She would get us scholarships to support our education. She made sure she provided us a high standard of education, post graduate and beyond so that we could stand on our own feet and not be dependent on anybody.
Mummy was our backbone, our prayer support through all life’s ups & downs. She always had a word of encouragement and scripture to go with it. When I was put directly into Std. 1 at school without even the experience of going to LKG and UKG, she would not only walk me to the bus, but she would also get into the bus with me, ride with me in the school bus – the only mother with her child in the bus – sit through my school assembly, wait till assembly was over and I walked to my classroom, say bye and go back. She did this for a whole year! No other classmate had this privilege! She did it for me, because she wanted me to have the best experience in school and know that she was there for me always.
I remember how Mummy cared for people, and even went on loss of pay many times to do so. Of course she took care of Daddy all his life, through all the pain and suffering he went through. But I also watched Mummy take care of my Grandpa, especially the last few weeks of his life. She would sit there next to him, caring for him and doing so much for him. I used to sleep next to my mother, so I knew everything that Mummy did. She set such a great example for us, and because of the way she took care of her father-in-law, I can say that I learned how to take care of my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, and Mummy herself.
Most importantly, Mummy trained all of us in the way that we should go so that when we are old we would not depart from it. She taught us the Word of God right from the youngest age. She made sure that we not only knew the Word of God, but we also knew the God of His Word! On the way to the school bus, she would teach me Psalm 23, Psalm 46… she would make me recite verse after verse after verse till I knew all of these Psalms by heart. Mummy never spanked me as a punishment, instead, I would have to learn some memory verses. Other times, I would get rewards for studying memory verses – it went both ways.
The last 14 days were the most precious and unforgettable days because our family came together in so much strength and unity around Mummy and were able to witness her suffering that she went through and to be there by her side. One day, when she was ready to step over to the other side, I asked her, “Mummy, what is Jesus telling you?”, and she quoted Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am you God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”, and also Psalm 73:26, “My Flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” And I tell you, in the last moments of Mummy’s life she was no longer breathing. Her oxygen saturation was 0, her breath rate was 0, her blood pressure was 0. But her heart kept pumping… and pumping… and pumping… and all I could think of is this verse that Mummy shared, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” It was God in that moment who had taken over, no longer Mummy.
The effect she had on the doctors and nurses in the ICU was tremendous. Even in the ICU, she was praying for others, sharing the Word of God. Doctors said they have never had such a patient, so knowledgeable, full of the Word of God, in everything she put God first. That’s exactly what she had written in her most precious torn & worn Bible front:
More than anything I want to be remembered as a woman who loved God first then my husband, children Joy, Sam, Johnnie, Priscy, Janie and Jasher and grandchildren, and people, but God was always first. Everyone who shared at the funeral testified this exact same thing, she always put God first. This was the testimony even of the doctors and nurses in the ICU, that no matter what, she always put God first. And this is the legacy that we as her children will strive to carry on.
I don’t believe Mummy’s going Home would be complete without this one thing: she would want every single person who knew her to know Jesus personally. You may have known Mummy very well, but if you do not know Jesus yet, Jesus was Mummy’s best friend. He walked with her, He talked with her, He was the love of her life. And I invite you to know Jesus today for yourself. That’s what Mummy would want for you.
We asked Mummy when she was in the hospital, “What do you want us to sing?”, and said, “This is my desire”. The song took on a whole literal meaning as we sang & prayed,
“God, I give you my heart,
I give you my soul
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I’m awake
Lord, have Your way in me.”
Mummy honoured the Lord Jesus Christ with her whole life. May He be glorified through this tribute as well.
