Judith Guerino: June 26, 1944 - November 24, 2011

Christmas 2009 at Judith's (G.G.'s) House

"The greatest gift we can give one another
is rapt attention to another's existence."
~Sue Atchley Ebaugh

My mother-in-love not only listened well but she gave rapt attention to my existence.
It came in many forms:

• Long phone calls
• A book I was reading - she would buy and read it as well
• Encouragement when I was struggling in a hobby or with other relationships
  
• A sought out gift
• Special time just for us girls during vacation visits
  

Her example of love taught me how to make someone feel and know they are special; rapt attention indeed.

As her cancer journey neared the end, I desperately wanted to give her the "rapt attention" of her precious existence in my life. I was praying for the opportunity to do so.

The answer came in a phone call on October 26, 2011 with her son. Matt listened to her explain how God brought to her remembrance the passage in Ezekiel 47:1-12 where the River of Life flowed from the temple. Ezekiel had this vision where he was ankle deep, then knee deep, thigh deep, and waist deep. At that point he wasn't allowed to be overtaken by the river but Judith knew she was about to. She was ready to let go and let the river take her into the arms of her heavenly Father. Such a picture brought her incredible comfort after several weeks of incredible suffering. She was ready to go home.

In the past when Judith and I would share with one another what God was teaching us, she would often find a common theme or point of connection. Days would go by and I assumed my musings would be forgotten. However, she would often surprise me by studying the passage in the Bible that touched me so deeply and would want to talk more. Or, she would buy the book I mentioned and would ask to discuss it again once she read it. It is said, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery one can give." Judith gave this to me very often.

To give her the gift of rapt attention I knew I needed to lean into this word picture of the river. I studied Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22 on the River of Life. With my son we looked up Randy Alcorn's answer to "What is the River of Life?" in his Heaven for Kids book. I was stunned to see his imaginative musings,

"The River of Life may have numerous offshoots flowing throughout the rest of the city....Perhaps we'll travel in gondolas throughout the city like many people in Venice, Italy!"

This was the lovely connection to Judith as she traveled to Italy and experienced a gondola ride in Venice. Tommy wrote her a lovely letter showing his rapt attention by quoting Randy and asking her to ask Jesus about it. He is hoping both of them can ride a gondola together on the River of Life someday in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.

Judith and Marilyn on a Gondola ride
(Fall 2009 - their husbands are at the other end of the boat)

The following day I stumbled upon Nancy Leigh De Moss's podcast on "The River of God." At that moment I felt God's rapt attention to Judith's existence. In the podcast Nancy walks through the Bible's rivers from Genesis leading to the River of Life in Revelation 22. Her pause at Ezekiel 47 to mention her special love for that passage felt like an extra touch from the Comforter to me.

As I listened to Nancy, I remembered that Jerry sketched a few bridges for the kids when they were in Venice (2009). The ultimate opportunity to give Judith rapt attention was placed on my heart.

I decided I needed to watercolor paint the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy with a gondola. Beyond just greeting card sized painting, I hadn't attempted something on my own but I was trusting the Great Artist to help me overcome my confidence hurdles and do this out of love for my Judy-Mom.

God's comfort of the River of Life, Randy Alcorn's imagination of gondolas on it one day, and Jerry's sketch became my inspiration. As I prepared and painted I gave praise for answered prayer.

Matt was able to take my painting to Judith on his last visit with her (November 7-9, 2011). As a picture says a thousand words, my painting hopefully communicated my deep love for her. God has used her existence to shape me into an image that more closely resembles our Savior.

Special thanks to Marilyn for her photographs in Venice.