EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
A mother's final words of comfort
By Jean Matsuo
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. ..." were Okasan's last spoken words as she died very peacefully just before the break of dawn, a few days past her 92nd birthday.
In the beginning, in the hospital, my mother was able to move with a walker, but as the days passed, her legs grew weaker, her appetite failed and she spent most of the hours in bed.
Despite her pains and discomforts, Okasan remained gracious. As long as she had the energy to do so, she would repeat very sincerely, "Thank you very much," to the doctors, nurses, aides and anyone else who came to help her. She reserved a special smile for the young gentleman who changed her sheets. This was my Okasan, so appreciative of people's kindness, very polite, so young at heart. She radiated so much love and aloha.
We understood the seriousness of her condition and were prepared for the inevitable, but somehow, when the time comes, you're never ready.
And, as if in answer to our prayers, Clyde Kakiuchi and members of the Pearl City Baptist Church came to visit Okasan with songs and prayers. It had been such a long time ago since Okasan had sung these old "kodomo" songs with her grandchildren under the trees at Ala Moana Park.
It was during these last painful days when the Rev. Hiratani from the Pearl City Baptist Church entered our lives — a kind and gentle Christian minister whom she could respect and admire.
Okasan had never met him before, nor had she attended Christian services since she last went to Sunday school as a child growing up in Wailuku, Maui. As an adult, she faithfully followed "Otosan" (father) into the coffee fields, working beside him, carrying her young ones on her back like the rest of the young farmers' wives. There was no time for Sunday school.
We watched as the minister leaned toward Okasan in her hospital bed to touch her face, ever so gently. And as he began to whisper a few words of prayer, Okasan knew there was a special minister. We could tell. It showed in her face. She never looked softer or lovelier.
Then, miracle of miracles, the last day, as the Rev. Hiratani leaned down closer to Okasan and whispered, "Jesus loves me, this I know," Okasan slowly opened her eyes, looked directly into his eyes and responded, "For the Bible tells me so. Yes, Jesus loves me," her voice so clear, so beautiful, so powerful! We bowed our heads in silent prayer, our tears flowing.
Okasan, who had not responded to our whispers, nor opened her eyes for days, was now looking straight into his eyes and in perfect harmony with him, kept on singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Yes, Jesus loves me ... " And in the quietness of the hospital hallway, in the silence of the early morning, their voices echoed the most beautiful and powerful. I'll remember for the rest of my days.
I walked over to the window and looked up at the skies, so clear and beautiful, not a single cloud in sight. How peaceful the world seemed to be at that moment!
The Rev. Hiratani did the service for Okasan and mentioned to all who were there what an amazing woman she was.
The choir sang, "Jesus Loves Me."
Jean Matsuo is a resident of Kane'ohe. Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes written works by leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
