My mom told me that years ago -- and then, in her dying, proved it.

Her dear sister Charlene was rushing to Texas from Iowa to be at her side, having come alongside her many times during their lives as sisters, she wouldn't fail her now.

I watched Mom wait. She did not wait in vain. Nor did she linger once Aunt Charlene arrived.

Since coming to the Gazette and overseeing the local desk, I have witnessed what I have dubbed the "holiday hiatus of death." In the spare weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, though death is never absent, it does seem to retreat, only to return full force in the early days of January.

This year the phenomenon has been particularly striking, with 38 deaths recorded in the Gazette ledger between Jan. 2 and Jan. 15. (Compare that to 50 deaths during the 40 days between Thanksgiving, Nov. 22 and Dec. 31.) This year, the number of funerals has been so significant in such a short period of time that a co-worker reported that when her mother-in-law went to arrange for flowers for a relative's funeral Jan. 14, she was told that the florist was completely sold out.

Death sometimes waits, but never for long and never quite long enough.

"It is appointed unto man once to die..."(Hebrews 9:27)

The last death recorded in that time frame was one of my first friends in McCook.

It was a pleasant surprise to receive a small token of appreciation from one of my "club" ladies early in my career at the Gazette and I have never forgotten her kindness. Through the years I would see her off and on, usually when called upon to take a picture of some good deed she and her fellow club members had done. Until her health began to fail, I also would see her at the weekly Lenten lessons. Sometimes she'd save me a spot near the front so I could take pictures, other times, we'd enjoy the meal after the lesson together.

A dear soul, Elaine Mizell. I'll miss her, but am sure to see her again one day.

"Encourage one another with these words..." (I Thessalonians 4:18)

I spent an afternoon a couple of weeks ago visiting with a McCook icon preparing for her 100th birthday.

She was one of the first people I met in McCook outside of work, and was a blushing maiden of 90 at the time. I say maiden because she was simply too busy throughout her century of living to take a husband.

Jack Rogers, senior editor at the Gazette when I arrived, now a city councilman, always referred to her as "Miss Dutcher," never losing the habit developed when she was his teacher many years ago.

Oh, how she loved the children of McCook and how well she loves life, even now. Still independent, she lives alone in her cozy McCook home, sharp as a tack and still planning each day's activities.

If long life is the reward for a life well-lived we won't be saying our temporary goodbye anytime soon. "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." (Proverbs 16:31)

Apparently Fred Phelps isn't finished yet. Proclaiming that Heath Ledger's untimely death last week was a judgment by God upon him for appearing in the controversial movie "Brokeback Mountain," Phelps indicated his intent to picket Ledger's funeral, his hate-filled signs at the forefront. Note to Mr. Phelps: Has your copy of Holy Scripture become such a loose-leaf edition that you have eliminated Luke 13:1-5? If so, I am obliged to remind you of that critical passage.

"Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.'"

Sin separates. All sin. Any sin. Included therein are the sins of arrogance and self-righteousness, Mr. Phelps. Take heed, lest ye fall. (I Corinthians 10:12))

The longer I live, the more I realize that I have much more to learn. And about the time I think I do have something figured out, the Lord above reveals how much more I need to know. Some live a good many years and have what most would consider ample time to seek the Lord and to find Him. Others have a only short amount of time in their allotted days. One thing I do know, whether we live a scant 33 years, four score and seven or even 10 full decades, this life is short, and eternity too long if we remain separated from God.

"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him." Lamentations 3:25 (NIV)

Things you won't see in heaven:

Death rosters