Written by: Becky Hunter in Becky Hunter's Random Bits of Wisdom on December 26, 2011

Today our family is heading back to my hometown in Indiana where we will meet up with my two brothers and their families to celebrate the life of my mother.

My youngest brother called me the morning of December 12th and told me that our mom passed away while sitting quietly at the breakfast table. She just put her head down and moved to heaven. For the first time in more than a dozen years she is without the confusion Alzheimer’s caused and she is filled with the joy of a life well lived. She always chose the Jesus way when she had decisions to make. That’s an awesome legacy.

My mom would regard all of us showing up just to thank God for her meaning-filled life as the best thing ever. All three of mom’s kids, and our spouses, all of our kids and their spouses, and all eight of their children will be together to celebrate her homegoing. We will gather at the church I grew up in and married in. And my brothers and I have been talking about it, we are planning to sit in the pew our family always sat in—three rows from the front on the far left as you face the pulpit. Among those saying a few words at the service will be our son, Isaac, who will preach and our grandson, Noah, who will read Scripture. Mom’s legacy, her passionate commitment to Christ has already reached fully through three generations. I’m not sure about the theological accuracy of her great-granddaughter, Ava, waiting beside Jesus to greet her, but that’s what I picture!

So today we head to the celebration, grateful for a heritage of blessings, many of which are a direct result of my mom.

"Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate" (Proverbs 31:31).