Christmas Love is Spreading Throughout HubPages

Psalm 41:3 states:

The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness.

Psalm 91:11 NIV states:

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Some may know of what has been going on since last month, beginning on the Veteran’s Day holiday, Monday, November 12, 2012, with my dear sweet mother, who was only given 48 hours to live. Now, a month and four days later, my mother just celebrated her 84th birthday this past Sunday, December 16, 2012, with her family present! I just received an answer to one of my prayers this Christmas.

The best Christmas present ever will be that my family and I will get to celebrate Christmas knowing that my sweet mother is still continuing to grow stronger and stronger each day and is well on Christmas Day.

You see, my sweet mother was moved to Hospice on December 12, 2012, this past Wednesday, where the doctors had now given her just three to nine days to live. Since day one in Hospice, my sweet mother has been smiling, able to eat by mouth and has not had to have any oxygen. She is getting stronger as each day passes. She knows who we all are and is very cognizant of what is going on around her! Praise God! To God be the glory!!! Whatever is God's will for her life . . . is God's will.

All my mother would repeat while in ICU and then Acute Care for the past month was, "I want to go home."

Just this day, Tuesday, December 18, 2012, they said that my sweet mother will be able to leave Hospice care! Praise His Holy Name!!!

Some gifts are big, others are small. Gifts from the heart are the best gifts of all.

It was another Monday, December 10th. Upon my arrival home after a long day at work and another long hour commute home, much to my delight, two separate packages had arrived in the mail from different parts of the United States. One had been mailed on December 5^th and the other December 7^th, however, both arrived on that Monday. The timing could have not been more perfect.

You may be wondering why I titled this hub . . . “Christmas Love Continues to Spread Throughout HP Town . . .” (Emphasis added.)

Well, if you are not aware, about ten days or so ago, a hubber, Mike Pugh by the name of CloudExplorer here on HubPages received a special gift in the mail from another hubber, Sunnie Day (Unfortunately for all, Sunnie Day is no longer publishing on HP at the present - 2014). If any of you do not know of Mike or Sunnie, then you have missed out on two special hubbers, who both have hearts so full of love for others, which has always expressed in both of their writings here on HubPages. Mike’s videos are always heartfelt and sincere. If you have not done so already, you will love CloudExplorer’s series, “The Art of Being Real On-Line.” Please check out the links here to the right.

Now, back to the two very special gifts I received from two special hubbers too, who both were aware of what my mother was going through at this time and almost having died on Veteran’s Day last month, as well as my trip to Georgia to see my mother and the continuing story . . . (to be told in another hub).

I was so excited (like a little child) to receive such, especially after seeing from whom the packages were sent . . . two very gifted and special writers right here on HubPages . . . Maria Jordan, who is also known as marcoujor on HubPages and Deborah Brooks (Debbie), who, sadly, is no longer publishing on HubPages at this time (2014) deborahbrooks! Or as I like to call them . . . two beautiful angels in person right here on this Earth!

I had torn open the first package that I picked in no particular order from hubber and special friend Maria Jordan aka marcoujor, which contained an autographed book Maria had written, Kylie’s Blossoms, and illustrated by Michael Friedman. Maria wanted to share her first published book dedicated to her great niece, Kylie Samantha in honor of her Mother, Sammie, which has been a labor of love. Maria, knowing of my mother’s illness and my love for the “sweetest mother on the planet, in my eyes,” my mother, Marjorie, sent to me her very special book. Maria knows what it is like to be the daughter of a very special "Momma" indeed! Oh what a delightful book of Kylie's and Teddy’s adventures of all the very special 12 new friends they meet along the way! My favorite chapter in Maria's book is "Kylie Meets Lily," and I may be a little bias, as one of my granddaughters is named Lily.

I will enjoy reading this book over and over to all of my grandchildren!

Maria also included inside her beautifully written and illustrated book, three separate cards. One larger envelope had my name written on the outside of it, and it is a most beautiful Christmas card with Maria’s special hand-written message of love and blessings to me and my family here at Christmas. Another smaller envelope also had my name written on the outside of it as well, which had three beautiful stamps sealing the envelope on the back which read, "Life is Love, Enjoy It," Life is a Dream, Realize It," and "Life is a Song, Sing It." How sweet! Inside was the sweetest little prayer card and special message to me, my “Momma” and my “beautiful family,” letting me know Maria was praying and we were in her thoughts. There was also the perfect scripture inside, . . . He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him. 1 Chronicles 5:20 NIV

Yet, much to my delight, was still another card with my mother’s name, Marjorie, on the outside of the envelope, and soon the tears began to flow, just knowing that Maria had taken the time to send a very special card to my mother, who Maria has not even met before. I did not open it until I saw my mother . . . and I read it to her in person, which in Maria’s handwritten note started out, Dear Momma Marjorie ~

It was a heartwarming experience just to know that Membership in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Spiritual Treasury, was bestowed to my mother, under the special patronage of the IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY (at the request of Maria on December 3, 2012) WILL SHARE FOR ONE YEAR IN a SOLEMN NOVENA OF MASSES celebrated in Camilla Hall Chapel honoring her Immaculate Conception and in the daily Masses, prayers, and apostolic works of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Special scripture was also included on that very special gift and card to my mother, See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands . . . Isaiah 49:16

Yet . . . still another blessing . . . Maria also included in this special package a most beautiful handmade blue necklace, where 100% of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society, which touched my heart so profoundly, knowing I am a cancer survivor.

Now, finally after much crying . . . I had torn open the other very special package received from another hubber and special friend Deborah Brooks (Debbie). Debbie also knows what it is like to be the daughter of a very special mother too! Oh my goodness . . . much to my delight once again, it was Debbie’s autographed (to include a very special message inside as well) First Edition, My Heart I Give, A Collection of Poetry, published November 16, 2011, dedicated to Debbie’s mom, Barbara Rose Brooks (April 2, 1936 – July 31, 2011). This very special book of poetry contains the most beautiful poems I have read to glorify our Lord God. It is also Debbie’s first book of Poetry. I am so very humbled that Debbie had even thought of me. However, Debbie also knows of my mother’s illness, and if you know Debbie, then you know of her great love for her mother as well.

In Debbie’s dedication to her mother, the following is what she writes: My Mom was the most Christian Mother, she taught me all about Jesus. She encouraged me to do things in this life, and not to hold back. A lot of these poems are about her, and although, my mom was in a lot of pain for the past three or four years, and every year she got worse, she always had a smile for everyone. She always had an encouraging word for all. Everyone became part of the family, even people I didn’t even know. She left a great Legacy. I was so proud to have her as a mom.

Debbie also included in her package to me, a beautiful Christmas card with precious hand-written messages from Debbie, which I will cherish forever. One of my favorite poems in Debbie's book is "Meet me in Heaven Will You?" Whew, that poem is one beautifully powerful poem where tears have no choice but to flow.

Without a shadow of a doubt, both Maria’s and Debbie’s mothers remind me of my sweet mother, Marjorie, the sweetest mother on the planet in my eyes.

There are no words that can describe the love in my heart I felt that day at the arrival of those two very special gifts from two very special friends I met through “HP Town,” who I have no doubt in my mind, spread love everywhere they go and touch many hearts each and every day of their lives. God bless you both, Maria and Debbie. I keep them both, and their families, in my constant thoughts and prayers each day too.

I want to also say a very special thank you to those very special hubbers who have also been praying, not only for me, but for my sweet mother and family as well: Not only to include Maria and Debbie, but also Patty, Jackie, Michele, Sparklea, Joseph, Larry, Mh, Molly, CrisSP, Tess, Sue and countless others from HubPages. God bless each and every one of you and your families. I love you all.

Peace and blessings to all in "HP Town" and I hope all have a Merry Little Christmas, filled with much love from me to you. In His Love Always, Faith Reaper

We expect too much at Christmas. It's got to be magical. It's got to go right. Feasting. Fun. The perfect present. All that anticipation. Take it easy. Love's the thing. The rest is tinsel.

Dear Friends, I felt I needed to update this hub considering the circumstances:

After having published this hub on December 18, 2012, my sweet mother, on December 20, 2012, at 12:25 EST, did get to go home. She left this temporal world, and went on to her true home in Heaven to be with our sweet Lord God. She is having the best Christmas ever with His angels all around in great celebration. I praise God for having blessed me for so many years with the sweetest mother on this planet in my eyes. She is also the strongest person I have ever known in this lifetime, and I am sure that I will ever know. I praise God for allowing me and my family to celebrate with my sweet mother on her 84th Birthday/Christmas celebration (it has always been my family's tradition to celebrate Christmas with my mother on her Birthday, and we did celebrate). She was so very happy, smiling with that big beautiful smile the whole time for those seven days in Hospice (where they even said she would get to go home, as she was getting so much stronger and getting so well), and it was as though her dementia was no longer, as her mind was so very clear. When my little sister arrived that day, she had taken one last sweet breath and went on to her true home. My prayers that we would get to celebrate her Birthday and Christmas with my mother were answered, as well as her going home.

Thank you all for the love you have shown me concerning me and my mother, especially over this past month.

A dear friend here, told me that Christmas must the best of all times to arrive in Heaven . . . can you even imagine the great celebration going on . . .

© Copyright Faith Reaper, December 18, 2012 (All rights reserved)