As we celebrate the 40th day commemoration of our beloved mother Nadia Anwar Bishay. I would like to share some words with you about her.
Yes, I say celebrate for there is no death for God’s servants, but a departure. We pray the He may grant her the good things of His promises, the things which You, O God, have prepared for those who love Your Holy name.
She was born on Tuesday January 1st, 1935.
She arrived peacefully into paradise on Wednesday April 8th, 2015.
It was during Holy Week, the church calls it Job’s Wednesday – Was it a coincidence? Or should I say how appropriate! Indeed it resembled how much she endured illness.
It was noon or 11:58 which is the sixth hour of the Agpeya, another coincidence? On this hour we commemorate the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So I can say, she suffered, died with Christ and celebrated the true resurrection in Heaven.
The family gathered around her and read the entire Gospel of St. Mark, which is normally read on Wednesday of Pascha week.
Moms are the most precious gifts from God, I am sure everyone here agrees with me. So when I talk about her, you will understand what I mean.
God granted Eva and I the most beautiful, amazing and loving mom, she is His and He lent her to us for this short time, so we may enjoy her, be blessed by her, and we experienced God’s love through her, she demonstrated and gave us love till her last breath.
The world teaches, life is to give and take…
But the Bible teaches “Love does not seek its own”.
Love was mom’s greatest virtue, I can boldly say that she lived and breathed Love as St. Paul taught it in the entire chapter of 2nd Corinthians 13.
She was kind
She suffered long
She bore all things
She believed all things
And above all she endured all things
She never envied
She was never rude
She never thought evil
She had everything, because she loved everyone.
She knew exactly that love is the greatest, because that’s what will last forever.
She had faith in God, and took the blessings of “Blessed are those who believe and not seen”
She hoped to be with Him, so she invested heavily in her eternal life. Heaven was not something foreign or strange to her, she invested really well by following His commandments.
And now she is enjoying the love of God forever. Our fair and just God, is crowning her with the many crowns she earned.
My mom is the most beautiful person I have ever seen. Truly is beautiful inside and out.
Mom enjoyed a personal relationship with Christ, through her prayers, reading the Bible, and all her deeds reflect that.
She gave, gave and gave without expecting anything back. She always put everyone ahead of herself.
My mom, the great mom:
She was just an amazing loving and giving person, I really can’t list my “thank you s” to her, they are countless. Growing up, immigrating here 35 years ago, she was my support system always, to the end. Believe it or not even when she was bed bound, she was the source of strength for all of us.
She supported me when I went to school here, and with the culture adjustment.
She supported me even when I got married, we lived with my parents for few years.
She helped me care for Nate my oldest son.
Always giving, many examples of giving and giving secretly.
Mom was a woman of very little words, and when she opened her mouth she spoke with wisdom, and on her tongue was the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26
Mom was a very simple person, and she lived the life of thanksgiving till the last breath.
Some of her very few words she spoke were: “Thanks be to God”.
Mom the servant:
Mom was a great loving servant and daughter. Like Ruth, she also took the role of supporting and serving her mother-in-law with joy, then later her own mother in their old age till they passed.
She offered lots of sacrifice, great unselfishness, compassion and generosity. She demonstrated loyalty and love to all.
Mom the great grandmother:
I can’t begin to tell you how much she loved her grandchildren. Even late in life when she became very sick, one time she fell accidently with one of care givers, Nate and I rushed her to the hospital, in the emergency their number one focus was to check on her head and her shunt. But she had other issues, and her wrist and all her fingers were broken, swollen and bruised. You can image the type of pain she had from her broken bones. I remember Nate wanted to cheer her up a little, and will never forget her smiling back at him even when she was in so much pain.. and the smile she would have on her face every time the boys go visit with them.
Mom the great wife: Proverbs 31:10-31
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.
Her lamp does not go out by night.
She extends her hand to the poor. Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her.
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Mom the great sister:
Mom is a great loving sister to her own siblings and to her brothers and sister in law, they look up to her, and owe her so much respect. They always seek her advice, she was like a second mom to them.
She taught us many lessons by example even in her silence. Her eyes spoke to us sometimes.
She endured all life’s hardships, tribulations and illness with thanksgiving. Never complained, always thankful.
Whenever I asked her, how are you mom? Her answer was always with no exception “Thanks be to God”.
To the point when she had no more strength to utter the words, I could still read her lips saying “Thanks be to God”.
She use to call me every morning around 8am to say:
Good morning, how are you? How’s Mechou and the boy? Blesses me and that’s all. She was not one of those moms that will give her daughters an ear full of bad advice. As a matter of fact, 32 years ago when we got married, she told me take care of Mechou. She was a women of very little words, yet great wisdom. She never gossiped, never spoke evil, she never gave bad advice.
Her love to all of us was truly unmatched.
Mom, thank you so much for all your unconditional love, and care that you have given to us. I may not be able to touch you nor kiss you and for that you will truly be missed… but you will always be in my heart.
Now I have my own personal intercessor in heaven, she knows me not just by name, but knows all my weaknesses and needs, I trust that she is praying for me and for my children.
And with Christ she is telling us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Mom, enjoy Christ and all His saints, enjoy heaven you deserve it. Congratulations! you have fought the good fight, you finished the race, and have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to you on that Day. 2nd Timothy 4:6-8
We thank God for her. And now she is enjoying Christ with all His saints. We ask her to pray for us before the throne of God.
Your daughter,
Randa