With final glance I took leave of that marvelous person. Miryam, in her sustaining radiance, stood alone smiling and so absolutely content. But no proper accounting can take place until the final chapter in the remarkable life of Miryam is discussed.
And so it was that I chose to visit with Jacob. This experience was not unlike that with Miryam. He and I speak as friends. Jacob graciously shares his thoughts as a vital ingredient in this wondrous story. It was just as it shall be described.
It is the year 795 AUC, 3803. Miryam had been 58 years of age at the time of our conversations. Now three years have passed and she has died.
[G] Shalom, Jacob. I come to learn of the concluding days of your mother, Miryam.
[J] Shalom, Gabe, you are most welcome to our abode. Of course there are no physical changes, but now so many new memories since your last visit. Dear mother was so excited to share her stories with you.
Gabe, is that the garment she completed for you? How kind that you see fit to wear it, especially today. Please share some cool water. Let us sit in the garden. It will be quiet there.
Now to that day. I had been taking my rest on the roof enjoying the coolness of the evening. Awakening, the sky still dark, I came down to the central room. As you had seen before her secluded space is partitioned.
After a little while, I beckoned Mother to arise and received no response. I thought that perhaps she had risen earlier and had taken leave. It was proper then that I saw to her place of rest.
Gabe, the pallet was empty – except placed there were her finest robe and head cover, folded so neatly alongside her best sandals. It should be of special interest to you that the robe was that very same gifted to her by the visitors of Persia at their visit honoring Yeshua. Mother had kept it safe for all of the years.
I do remember some mention that she wore it on two occasions of prayer after sit Shivah. Those would have been in tribute to the lives of young Judas and Yosef.
On this sight I recalled a most fleeting night dream. I knew now that Mother was dead and that she had departed somehow, entirely in spirit and in body. This was most assuredly the plan of HA-SHEM – that the mother of his son, our Moshiach, was not to be subject to the harsh decay in some lonely grave.
[G] In respect to your words, this has been a most clear detail of that morning’s events. Miryam had vanished. Please, what then took place?
[J] As the sun had not yet appeared, collecting the items left upon her pallet I hastened to that most favored hill out beyond the village. Certainly she had told you that father and mother called it their special place. Oh I do recall that she had mentioned to me that it was on the hill from which you had taken your leave three years ago. Please, let us go up there together.
I buried the robe, sandals and scarf in a space here, close to the grave of her husband and facing Bayt Lahm. I was certain that she would find favor with my choice. We all know and were a part of her destiny that began with the birth of her son, Yeshua in that distant place.
Let us sit here for a little longer.
Rivka had met me on the way down the hill. She immediately was made aware of the passing of Miryam and of the unusual circumstances. Then Rivka made sure to quell the natural curiosity of the villagers by creating a story. She spoke first to the women and then anyone else concerned, making them aware of some unusual conditions which had required a prompt burial. Gabe, you know Rivka well enough, and so I had no concern.
I have received not a single question, but rather the most sincere words of respect and love for my mother. There were none that did not share in my grief. I did sense a loss, but it was time. How well shall we all continue to reflect on the values of her life.
Mother had directed that those items most precious to her be distributed in a precise manner. That has been accomplished.
It was most loving and thoughtful of her that I be given the staff of Yeshua. I shall not allow it to ever be far from my sight. How deeply honored were we all to have known his love and message of renewal in our devotion to Adonai.
[G] I have been blessed to hear of the triumphs that you, with all of the present and most assuredly the future disciples, realize in the spreading of the words and works of Yeshua, the Moshiach. Thank you.
Shalom, dear Jacob.
[J] Shalom, my cherished friend.
…and now to some final observations…
How gracious was Miryam, so willing to share life’s emotions.
Perhaps by some other’s measure, she and Yosef had led a most chaotic life. Those experiences, which Miryam so openly discussed, certainly would not support such conjecture.
Rather, it was a life of joy and challenge, love and commitment to one another and to all for whom they had assumed responsibility.
Most of all their very existence was of complete dedication to their charge, the early care of Miryam’s child Yeshua towards the fulfillment of His destiny.
For well over 1,900 years, Miryam has been and shall continue to be the standard for all humanity. She is the virtuous example of the finest earthly state to which an individual might aspire.
Indeed, as it was written of Miryam so long ago and which is still true to this day,
My being proclaims the goodness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God, my savior, for he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed. God, who is mighty, has done great things for me, holy is his name…
She remains the Almighty’s gift to us, a veritable illustration of human perfection.
Finis