"Mima must be dancing in heaven because she gets to celebrate Jesus' birthday with Him."

DANCING IN HEAVEN

Make Time to Be with Those You Love

    "Mommie? Are you OK?"
     I tried to turn away from Rebekah, not wanting to scare her with my reaction. I hung up the phone and covered my face with my hands. "Mommie," Rebekah came around, looking up at my face. "Mommie, why are you crying?"
     I knew it would happen anytime. And yet the news that Mima had died surprised me. When I was a child growing up in Puerto Rico, this is the grandmother who lived with me, sang songs to me and acted like the second mother she was to me.
     It was Christmas day, and the day after Mima's 83rd birthday.
     No one had paid attention to the phone or to my phone call, except for Rebekah. Not only did my sensitive daughter leave behind her Christmas treats to check on me, but she was immediately in rune to my pain.
     I put Rebekah down, gently took her hand and walked with her to the next room, where I sat down on the couch and put her on my lap.
     ''It's Mima, Bekah," I finally said softly. "Your Abba called to tell me that she died this morning." I wiped my wet cheek.
     Rebekah looked at my eyes for a moment, then without saying a word, encircled my neck with a tight embrace. I hugged her back, waiting until she let go of our hug.
     "Mommie," began Rebekah, looking into my eyes again. "Today is Jesus' birthday. And Mima loved Jesus very much." She paused with a thinking look on her face. "So why are you crying? Mima has to be happy to be with Jesus."
     I smiled through my tears.
     "I'm crying because I will miss her, Bekah," I said, now sobbing as I tried to get the words out. "But you are right! Mima must be dancing in heaven because she gets to celebrate Jesus' birthday with Him."
     "And eat His birthday cake!" Rebekah finished my sentence.
     While my head knew the words, my heart was grieving for myself I would miss my grandmother and sharing my kids with her. Yet, clearly, my daughter understood with both her heart and her head the truth of death. For believers of He who is the Resurrection and the Life, death does not hold the final word. And life is a precious and fleeting and unique opportunity to experience the God who created us, the God who is Love, through one another and our humanness.
     The moments we have to spend with those we love always seem too short in retrospect. But, my prayer is that we, as a family and as individuals, make the time at every opportunity to be with those people who are precious to us.
     At the recent funeral of my husband's grandmother Ruth, I was struck by how much our time together meant to her. Her albums were filled with pictures of our kids with her at the zoo, at the museums, visiting her hometown, playing at the beach. Great-grandma even kept the notes and pictures the kids mailed her.
     I was also overwhelmed with thanksgiving that my four children have beautiful and numerous memories of their great-grandparents because our family made choices and took the time to be with them. On the drive down to Ruth's funeral in Texas, the kids took turns sharing funny and special memories.
     I know how hard it is to keep a weekend free for a visit. I realize just how difficult it is to rearrange schedules, to make the long drive, to take the time, to postpone work, to set aside the numerous things to fix around the house. I know all too well the many reasons NOT to make time, no matter who the person. But I have learned that time is the most precious gift of Love we can give.