Consumed by my loss, I didn’t notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend — my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense, I found it hard to breathe at times.
Always supportive, mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father’s death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life.
When mother’s illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor.
“What now, Lord?” I asked sitting in church. My life stretched out before meas an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife’s hand.
My sister sat slumped against her husband’s shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone. My place had been with our mother, preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished and I was alone.
I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears.
He began to sniffle. “I’m late,” he explained, though no explanation was necessary. After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, “Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of ‘Margaret’?”
“Oh” “Because that was her name, Margaret. Never Mary. No one called her ‘Mary,’ I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn’t have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway?
“No, that isn’t correct,” he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering, “Her name is Mary, Mary Peters.”
“That isn’t who this is, I replied..”
“Isn’t this the Lutheran church?”
“No, the Lutheran church is across the street.”
“Oh.”
“I believe you’re at the wrong funeral, Sir.”
The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man’s mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter.
I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs.
The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me.He was laughing, too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit.
I imagined mother laughing.
At the final “Amen,” we darted out a door and into the parking lot. “I do believe we’ll be the talk of the town,” he smiled. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt’s funeral, asked me out for a cup of coffee.
That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place.
A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time. In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June we celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary. Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, “Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it’s truly a match made in heaven.”
Author Unknown
This made me cry. It’s very emotional. The best story I have read.Thank you, author for sharing this story with us
Very emotional and touching.i love these stories
God’s plan
God does really work in mysterious ways.
This story was indeed great and heart touching. I shouted on my mother at times when she didn’t meet my desires. Yesterday only I shouted at her like hell. After reading this story I am feeling so guilty, so ashamed. I don’t know how to say a simple “SORRY” it seems to me so hard to say.
Thanks mom for being there for me…:,(
A good story. Some mistakes too lead to happy endings like this.
Meaningful
<3 🙁
Wow I enjoy it. Soo nice and sweet story 🙂
This Blog is aa waaaaay amazing 🙂 It’s really cool !!
All the Awesome, too good.. Thank for sharing
She sacrificed her time for her mom and @ the end she got wat her heart was yearning for..a soul mate..u go gal!
Really good story.
That was an awesome story with sweet cute touch.. 🙂
Really heart touching story…like it..
Nice one I like it………….:)
That was a very emotional story but it was funny when the man came to the wrong funeral. My mom is the world to me.
It is really touching…. Our mom is always there for us…
Very inspiring…
Super!!!!!
Aw :/ I love this.
How sad…everytime I read stories about loved ones having cancer, I can’t control my tears because both my auntie (breast) & uncle (colon) are now cancer victims (they’re couple w/ 3 kids)….But your story made me smile, I love it so….there’s hope, there’s something beautiful that happened after your loss….Thanks!
Great story!!! …this story is showing the pain of loosing the mother….and those people who r not good with their parents especially with their mother will not be having place in the heaven ever!!!! I love u mummma.
Lovely mothers take care of their children even after they are gone.
Unteresting story of how things fall into the right place and right time which is less expected.
The steps of a good man (woman) are ordered by the Lord.
Nice one
I also laughed after reading this one…. I love it.
Emotional & Touching … I loved it.
Amazing story.. God moves in mysterious way.
I lost my biological parents at a very young age. I never had a chance to appreciate and treasure them. I regreated it but God was too good to me .. he gave me a new secured environment with wonderful parents. They nurtured me to be a well respected person in the society. I really owe them a lot. They had sacrificed their lives for me and my sibling. I will always continue to love, treasure and protect my parents even after my death. They are my world and happiness. Always love u, amma & appa.
This relation proofs that how much moms care for their children.
When she feels her children are alone she bless them with the beautiful gift forever so that their smiling faces always keep smile 🙂
Spiritual act and wise marriege
Wow what a lovely story
Such an inspirational mixure of humour and sadness
Just always have faith to Our Father God in heaven because he has a great plan for each of us. I LOVE YOU MAMA. Thanks for everything because I am always cherished and remember you mama. Thanks for my life because I have my son and my beloved husband.
I remember when my mom was still alive, I was her princess and beautiful of all the woman here in this world, then when she passed away when I was already 15 years old, all my loneliness, even my tears no one understands me, but she is always in my dream remind me that she is always in my heart, I had so many dreams for my mom that we all together in laugh and happiness too…..When I was 26 suddenly happen to me it’s big a blessing for me because I am proud to be a mom without his father and forget us when started my baby in my womb. I am proud to be mom because of that I realize I am deserving to be happy then after that I never had a dream of my past mom. Maybe and realize here she is proud of me being Single mom I can stand alone and everything is fine because of the help of Our FATHER GOD in heaven. Yes I am truly happy because I am totally in love and my renz accepted of my beloved future husband. Thanks Father God for everything.
Mothers are simply the best. I can’t imagine the world without them. Mine was taken away without warning and till now I can’t get over it. May Allah have mercy on them.
WONDERFUL… I cry. I dont want to loose my mom, I can not do without her smile, advice, prays… I will be sooooo alone after her, thats why I am afraid of loosing her. Let Allah protect all mothers…
I love this story sooo much h h h h h
Such a sweet story, loved it.
A very beautiful story.
Love the way he said you met so sweet. Your mum remembered u and asked God to order the steps of ur life time partner. It reall was a divine connection
My mother is also cancer patient and she is fighting against it since two years and she is in good condition now but I pray that as God gives you the courage he also gives me same that I can bear the situation when she will go and i will become alone.
I KNOW IT IS A STORY BUT …YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
ABOUT YOUR STORY: IT IS AMAZINGLY HEART TOUCHING
I love the way u expressed us a mother’s affection for their child and yes the importance of our parents. Thanx, and I promise I will never ever going to heart the lady God who has sacrificed a lot for making my future bright.
Mother… the greatest gift I received from God that no one can steal…
really a heart touching story………. real match made in heaven 🙂 god bless:)
No amount of words can express how I am touched by this inspiring story. This is indeed life changing. Hope that this inspires us to take care of our parents in their remaining years. That is one way of paying tribute to them. We can never be without them.
Very nice story yeah mom only will care for us even when they are sick.
Awwwww… that’s sooo sweet!!!
Good that your mom showed a way for u to lead ur life happily even without her presence. God is with u.
I love it 🙂
Really sad but funny story at all.. I enjoyed reading it..
from a tragic death to a happy ending
Very nice and emotional story…. I liked it…
The guy was a true master of pick-up lines…..hehe.
Very emotional story.
This story makes me cry. Yah our mom are always there whenever we need her. No matter what happened she will always be at our side. I remembered when my mother is the only one who raised me and my 4 siblings and luckily we survived from her hands.This is the greatest gift we have received from God that no one could steal. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
aww..so sweet (:
That’s great!!! I like it.