Who do you remember this time of year?

by Lois Bylund

Some people like change, and others don’t.

I’m one of those people who like change–for the most part. But for the past seven years, a change has been coming.

My mother-in-law passed away on October 25, peacefully, at 102 years “young.”  She’s gone, and we will make no more Christmas memories together with her.

Mollie was a kid at heart. She couldn’t wait for Christmas, and she loved opening presents. She would rip off the paper to see what was inside.

We have spent the last 32 Christmases together.  We would pick her up on Christmas Eve, so we could go to church. Then we’d come to our house for a Swedish meatball supper. Mollie would stay overnight so she could enjoy the kids opening their Santa gifts on Christmas Day.

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Over the last seven years, she was unable to leave the nursing home, mostly because of her mobility and hearing issues, so we would go to the nursing home and spend time with her on Christmas Day. We’d take gifts for her to open before dinner.

Every year, I would buy her a nightgown for Christmas. But not this year. This year I didn’t get to see her eyes light up when she opened her gifts.

Christmas changed this year for my family and me. But each Christmas that passes from now on, I’ll always remember her smile and the joy she brought to our family.

Do I like this change? Surprisingly, yes, because I believe Mollie is in a better place, celebrating with family members who have gone before her. This memory we hold of her in our hearts will never change. That’s forever.

Who do you hold in special memory this time of year?

Lois Bylund serves on the churchwide executive board. She lives in Moorhead, Minn., and is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. The photo includes Lois’ husband, Leon, daughter Kayla, son, Michael, Mollie with the family dog, Josie, Lois, and daughter Jennifer.