Because He Lives

Will has yet to discover his mom can't sing. So I'll sing to that boy until he figures it out. Especially when he was an infant, singing sometimes had the power to silence his crying. Most often the song was "Because He Lives," because that was one of mom's favorites. During the seemingly endless ten days of mom's bedside vigil, I went back and forth between my house and mom and dad's house multiple times each day. In the late nights and early mornings at home, I'd console Will (and myself) with the words I knew mom had also drawn such comfort from. We sang that hymn at her memorial service, and how fitting that I distinctly remember hearing the congregation sing the stanza about holding a newborn baby as we processed out of the sanctuary:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

It wasn't until recently that I remembered the last stanza of the hymn, and it made me smile because I understand why it was mom's favorite. It was her testimony:

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Drew called me a few weeks ago to tell me he had a dream where mom called us on the phone from Heaven. Isn't that something she would do? Talk about making me smile. She fought life's final war with pain, and on December 21, death gave way to victory. She's seen the lights of glory and can confirm He Lives.

Maybe that's what she was calling to tell us.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

"Mommy, keep singing, please."