I believe in Jesus Christ as it says in the Nicene Creed:

“For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I was glad to have a strong faith in God and knowledge that Jesus had died and absolved us of our sins. I could not imagine going through that ordeal without this faith. However, it was not without tribulations. My family and I prayed that mom could be healed. We questioned “Why her?” and “Why our family?”. I was visited by Dr. Fogartie. We discussed that God has reasons that we may not yet understand. We prayed for understanding and for compassion for my mother.

It was the week before Easter that my mom became very weak. She was not in pain, which was a blessing. On Good Friday, the minister from my parents’ church, Ben, came to the house for communion. My whole family including my mom participated in the service. Ben gave each of us a nail to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice so that we could be absolved of our sins and enter into the Kingdom of God. I truly understood that my mom, as a true believer in Jesus and what he had done for us, would be going to Heaven and there we would meet again. She died the following afternoon.

That nail from the communion service has definitely become a symbol for my faith. I carry it with me always. It continues to give me comfort in my mom’s life and reminds me of the sacrifice Jesus made for those who believe in Him. It reminds me daily that we must not only be a Christian, but act as a Christian to show thanks for this wonderful gift of salvation. Occasionally, someone will notice the nail and ask about it. It is a blessing to tell them about my mother and witness to the great promise that God has made to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. I hope they see in me the comfort and security I have in my life because of this small symbol of my faith.