I met Elly Smid nine years ago and though she had every reason to be cautious and skeptical about me, she graciously welcomed me into her home. I don’t know what she said about me when I wasn’t around (and I don’t care), but in her presence I felt accepted and eventually loved. Dick and I had some ups and downs while we were dating, but she never alienated me – in fact, it was just the opposite. She was always encouraging and I felt like she was rooting for me.

She was fussy, stubborn, sometimes manipulative and definitely old school, but in a sweet and endearing way that made me just roll my eyes 🙄 and shake my head. I don’t remember ever being angry with her. When Dick and I announced that we were getting married, she was so happy — there was no analysis or scripture lesson. She knew that I loved the Lord and I loved Dick and Kathryn. That’s all that mattered. I will never forget her joyous embrace on our wedding day (it helps that it was captured in this photograph).

I had never known what to call her and basically avoided calling her anything. 😬 After I was the wife of her son, she asked me what I would call her. I said, “I think I will call you mama and Han will be papa”. She thought that was perfect. 👍

We had many kitchen table talks and we talked about many topics, mostly Dick and Kathryn stuff. I’ll miss gathering around that kitchen table for breakfast, saying hui morgen and being waited on like I was in a diner (cup of tea? croissant? juice? don’t get up).

I will forever cherish the wonderful times we spent together in Nederland where she was in her element. If a person was Dutch, they were immediate kin — she would talk to them as if she’d known them for years. I felt bad that I sometimes put her in a bind between Dutch and English and it would get her all confused about which language to use! She had to have a broodje haring, shop at Hema, stock up on Dutch goodies at Albert Heijn and a pannenkoeken dinner was strongly suggested.

This post is in the past-tense because Mama passed on to her eternal rest this week. Last Friday, she said my name for the last time. It was just my name, but I heard “I’m so glad you’re here” and again felt her love and acceptance. I can’t yet imagine life without her in it.

“Rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in heaven.”