The Pencil On Page 381

My mother was a bookaholic.

When I was a child, she had surgery and during her rest she read a huge book called "The Great Controversy" by Ellen G. White.

I was impressed with the size of the book and asked: "Mom, is resting is reading books?"

She always told me this story laughing at my innocence. Consciously or unconsciously, she transmitted to me, by example, the taste for reading.

Years passed and she continued to read a lot. Every year she completed a Bible year program. She was always two days early, in case some eventuality prevented the reading of the day. But this never happened. She just read every day. 

In addition to the Bible year, she also read a psalm or two.

When she heard that I was translating Dr. Alva Huffer's Systematic Theology book, she offered to buy the first copy and made her contribution to the project even before we started the fundraising campaign.

I knew that she was looking forward to the book in her hands and when that happened she would read the entire book in a short time. In the dedication I wrote in her book, it was recorded:

"Mom, is resting is reading books?" I recognize and thank you for your encouragement so that I had a love for reading and, above all, a love for reading the Word of God. I love you. September 26, 2021. Samuel "

She started reading that same day. 

But life sometimes presents us with some surprises along the way.

When the book was finally ready, I had a fall from my horse and had to drain a clot in my head. During rest I could not read because this reading activity caused me vertigo and nausea.

On the other hand, she also became seriously ill with pancreatic cancer. We stayed like this: me resting, but unable to read; and she with the book ready, but unable to read also.

In a short time I was recovered, but the same did not happen to her. When she got a little better and returned home, she would quickly pick up the book and continue reading. On Friday nights I would always go to her house with my wife and children to say the prayer to receive the beginning of Saturday.

On these occasions she would comment with me on the parts of the book she was reading.

Even in the hospital, she continued reading the Bible year program. When she couldn't read anymore, she asked us to read for her to hear. And when he didn't ask us to read anymore, we knew the end was near.

Unfortunately she passed away on April 24, 2022 and today I have on my shelf that book with a pencil on page 381.

A precious memory of my mother, who would never have left the book half-finished if she'd had more time. And a very strong warning to myself about the fact that we don't have all the time in the world.

That's why I need to do what needs to be done, say what needs to be said, dedicate myself more to the project of the creation of the Brazilian Publishing House, because one of these days time runs out and we'll leave a book behind half-finished, with a pencil on the page 381.