A Dear Friend Died this Mother's Day.

Death comes unexpectedly.

Be prepared now. If you have unfinished business with someone; reconcile, make amends, make a phone call today. Reach out as death comes when it does, like a thief in the night.

I moved to Blacksburg Va in 1979. I was teaching and Jason was 2 years old. I found a woman who had just moved to BBurg to be nearer her daughter Cheryl. She would visit our home once a week to "clean." I would make her lunch and we would chat mostly about family goings on. Sarah had three adult children and grandchildren.

Sarah was active in her ladies circle at the local Episcopalian Church. She volunteered regularly for the library and the Red Cross. Living on Social Security and Medicare because of her bi-polar illness; I helped her when I could. I always included money in the cards I sent. We would go on travels around town and I would take her to lunch or an activity when she would let me.

Sarah had a good sense of humor and she and I would get to laughing about life and the machinations of her family. Sarah was not without suffering. Her youngest son was involved with pot and as a roofer fell off a building while high. He was brain damaged and lives in a group home ever since. Sarah was not able to visit often but she did what she could. Sarah was happy he lived and that he was now in "a safe environment."

Sarah loved to travel and came by train to see me after we moved to Chicago in 1996. I had a good time "showing her Chicago." She suffered from Parkinson's and her daughter said she may have died of a stroke while Sarah was alone in her apartment. Cheryl and all the children arrived on her doorstep this Mother's Day to take her out and found they could not get in.

I assume the landlord got the family into the apartment. She had been dead for up to a week. Cheryl said it has been very hard as no one had called her mom that week to check in. The service was last Friday and Cheryl promised to send me the program.

So "Do NOT wait." The work of reconciliation and compassion cries out, "NOW" for tomorrow may be too late. May God provide comfort for Sarah's family and grandchildren. I know Sarah is counted as one of the saints.