Becoming a Mother-in-Law of Grace

I try hard to be a mother-in-law our children enjoy having around.  I thought I had a pretty good handle on my role but a very godly, wise woman farther along in life's journey recently showed me the meaning of sacrificing self in respect of a deeper bond than mother and child.  Her fifty-five year old son was dying and his wife was speaking to us about some of his final wishes.  We could tell that one was particularly troubling to his mother.  Chuck asked, her, "What do you think about this?  I have a feeling you have a pretty strong opinion that's different from his."  She paused and then smiled as she responded, "I could have an opinion, yes.  But I'm not going to."

There was nothing in her tone that communicated anger or that her desires should have had a greater influence.  She had already expressed her concerns to her daughter-in-law and how it was time to let her son and his wife have the final word. Her reply indicated her heart's desire to remove any unnecessary stress from her daughter-in-law who would soon be a widow.  What a gift she gave to her son's wife.

I couldn't help but think of the many women who refuse to recognize the primacy of the marriage relationship, who will not keep quiet when decisions should be the responsibility of her child and his or her spouse. 

During a few minutes alone with this precious mother, I commented on her daughter-in-law's earlier description of her singing and talking to her son as he lay in a coma. She quietly shared, "I told him he has run a good race, fought a good fight, and walked the path of faith - he has finished well."

I couldn't stop my tears as I said, "I think of you giving birth to your son fifty-five years ago.  And just as you delivered him into this world then, you're now helping usher him back into heaven.  What a gift you are giving by transforming your grief into a chariot that is helping carry your son into the presence of God."

Thank you, precious friend, for showing me how to live out God's sovereign love, even when delivering a child into  the arms of God.

In His Grip,

Sharon

First Posted March 22, 2008