A Story from Mom

Alzheimer’s, Faith, Family 3 Minutes

On the corner of the desk at my mom and dad’s house, a stack of addressed envelopes in my mother’s handwriting remained for years. Three, four, or more. The cards inside were written to her nieces and nephews. One was for my daughter Lauren. I always wondered why they were never mailed, but one cannot argue with Alzheimer’s. Upon my mother’s death, we opened one that was not addressed, and we found a story from my mom and a letter. I think she wants you to have it. I think it’s all to say that everything will be okay.

I want to tell you a story. This is a true story. It is about me. How my life was changed.

From Sharon Savage Petty

When I was a very little girl, before I went to school, our family went to a little white frame church. It was about a half a block east from our house. We walked to church every Sunday. I loved going to church. I loved Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. I loved all the songs and the stories that I learned. I loved Jesus and knew that He loved me. When I was in grade school, the church had grown so much that they decided to build a bigger church. It was built about half a block west of our house and it was made of stone. We continued to walk to church every Sunday morning and Sunday evening and sometimes on Wednesday night. I remember one of my Sunday School teachers more than any other. Her name was Mrs. Ward. It was about that time that I began to listen to what the preacher said that we are all sinners and need a savior. He said that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. I knew at the young age of ten years old that I was a sinner and I wanted Jesus to be my Savior.

Our little Baptist Church asked people who wanted to invite Jesus into their lives to be Lord and Savior to come to the front as a witness of our commitment to follow him. I wanted to walk down the aisle to make that commitment, but I was a very shy little girl, and I couldn’t make myself go.

I believe it was the next Sunday. I will never forget what happened that day. I heard a small sound, and I looked across the church and saw one of the girls from my class at school. She was walking down the outside aisle. I thought, “If she can do it, I can too.” So I went down the aisle. I prayed to Jesus asking him to forgive my sins and be my Savior and Lord. It was a strong commitment to follow Jesus.

That afternoon, my Mother’s friend came over to visit. She said that she didn’t believe that I was saved, and she thought I went to the altar because my friend did. Her words put doubt in my mind, but I knew in my heart that Jesus was my Savior. That night when I went to bed, I prayed and prayed asking Jesus if I was really saved. I prayed for a very long time that night and, suddenly, I felt great peace come over me. I knew then for sure that I was saved. I got out of bed and went into the living room where my Mother was and told her that I really believed that I was saved. She said, “I believe that you are too.”

I truly know that Jesus has been with me since that day. He promised us that He would send His Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, Guide, and Teacher. He helped me understand the Bible. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). I can’t say that I have had a perfect life, but I can say that I have had “A Wonderful Life”. My relationship with Jesus has grown through the years. I read my Bible and pray often. I am very thankful for the life I have had. I have been truly blessed. I hope that you will make a commitment to follow Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him too. I can truly recommend him.

Published by Crystal Byers

When I was young, my dad would always say, "Crystal, you can choose your attitude." One day I chose to believe him.

Published

42 thoughts on “A Story from Mom”

  4. Wonderful! You simply can’t argue with someone else’s experience. It’s theirs. It’s touching that your mom left behind these never mailed letters. Perhaps she realized (even with Alzheimer’s) that the people who needed them would read them. People like me.

    I have a couple of year’s worth of my mother’s journals. She loved to sit by a sunny window and write whatever came to her mind. Some of her thoughts are random and jumbled together. I often find myself reading along and saying, “What do you mean, mom?”

    But then I realize: writing was like a sanitizing rinse for her. Her seemly random thoughts straight from the ♥️.

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    1. I always enjoy trading stories about our mothers, David. They were alike in so many ways, especially how their thoughts came straight from the heart. I believe my mom knew when she left these behind that her story would travel far. It was one of her final gifts.

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    1. Hello Jerry, thank you so much for reading and leaving your own kindness. I really feel like my mom wanted you to know what worked for her. As her witness, I saw how faith shaped her entire life. May you find loads of joy in your new year.

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  14. Here’s to an outstanding 2021, Crystal.

    An extraordinary development. Not just in the document itself, the letter, which is important and which you’ll savor, but in the message it communicates. As you suspect, your mother uses this as a way to draw your family in for a hug and to remind you love still fills her heart. Obviously.

    Of course, she sees to it you discover these letters now, at just the right moment. Something to keep all of you going until she sees you next. Let we mortals, with our little, linear-obsessed minds, tie ourselves into knots trying to understand how your mother, acting “now,” wrote the letters “then” and set them aside. Oh, I’m sure she can explain, but what’s the point when we’ll understand it ourselves soon enough?

    As The Book reminds us, “mysteries” will be revealed. Before then, forgive us the current bafflement.

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    1. I have a good feeling about what’s to come. It stems from my mother’s faith and the gratitude I’ve learned along the way. I suppose back in 2017 when I started the blog, I realized that my faith and gratitude provided peace and hope. It was an epiphany at the time, but three years later, the formula still carries me through challenging times. To an outstanding 2021, Keith.

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  15. What a wonderful testimony. A few days before my mother died she told me that she had died the night before and had seen Jesus and Heaven. She told me how wonderful it was and that she was no longer afraid of death. Wow!!! when she passed away a few days later all I could feel for her was happiness that she was finally exactly where she wanted to be.

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    1. Oh, SP, I love that so much. I know so many stories of people who have crossed temporarily over to the other side and come back to say something similar. Thank you for sharing. There is nothing to fear, and Heaven is wonderful. ❤️

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