"A Mother and Child Reunion"

No, I would not give you false hope
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reunion
Is only a motion away           (Mother and Child Reunion, Paul Simon)

There once was a mother and child who lived in a one room abode. They were happy, but they dreamt together of the day they would share many rooms, still together, but free to be.

One day the mother’s fortunes changed in a most unexpected way.  She told the child that tomorrow she, the mother, must leave because she found the way to the place with many rooms, and that one day they could be there together. It would be a wonderful place, beyond the places they imagined together in their bed time prayers.  The child, though, was quite unhappy. ‘Don’t leave me, Momma,’ she said through her sobs and tears.  But the mother explained, ‘Mommy has to go to get your room ready for you to enjoy.  I am going to make it very special, painting it your favorite color, with a bedspread of your favorite hero. It is going to be so special, and we will both enjoy it together forever.’ So the mother promised the child a reunion in the place with many rooms. 

The mother departed, but not before making sure that grandma could stay with the child to protect and comfort the child.  Still, the parting of the mother and child was not easy, on either of them.

After a time and time again the rooms were ready. The child and the mother had both grown. Now, when it was time for the reunion, after she had finished all of the preparations,  the mother…

How would you finish this parable? Is how you wish it would end different from how you think it would end if you were the child? If you were the mother?  It’s all a matter of trust, of belief in the goodness of the mother, right? The child must either believe mother’s promise or not. The mother was telling the truth or she was not.  So it is in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.” (Jesus, John 14:3) I would not give you false hope. It is only a motion away.