Mom and Sacrifice

I just wanted to take a minute tonight to wish Happy Mother's Day to all mothers in the blog world. I have been thinking about this most of the day. As many of you know, my mother is residing in the nursing home. It was such a hard decision for my family to make, but we had to do it. As my Mom would say, " You have to do what you have to do!" I visit Mom everyday and watch the slow progress of her disease as it takes over her body. It's not a pleasant experience for all of us. I was reminded that Mary felt the same thing. She had to watch her son being tortured, mocked, and killed. It was a slow process and one that no one wants to experience. Could God have stopped it? Yes he could, but he knew that Jesus was going to sacrifice himself for all of those he loved. I thank Jesus for that sacrifice! A mother's love and sacrifice is very similar. A mother will go to no end to protect her children. She endures great pain to bring them into this world, with no regret! She loves and nutures her babies with such care. She never thinks twice about the sacrifices that she has to make. In some cases , the sacrifices are truly greater than others. I think about the many times that my Mom did without. She could have chosen to buy things she wanted or she could have chosen to put us second in her life, but she didn't . Jesus could have chosen to not take the path of sacrifice. Life is all about choices. As a mom, we make many choices. They are choices that don't just affect us, but they affect our children. We carefully weigh our decisions, many times spending hours and days on those decisions. My mother was never a selfish person! I learned from the best. She would give freely and never ask for anything in return. She raised three children on a seamstress salary. As I was growing up, I never thought about the long hours she worked or the times that she worked when she was sick. As an adult and a mother, I realize now just why she made the choices that she did. I remember Mother telling me how she asked God to supply her with a job to support her children and she would live her life for Him. My mother held true to her request and of course, God held true to His. My mother's life was dedicated to God and her children. What a better example could you have. She has always taken care of someone in her life. She was a true giver! I grew up knowing no difference. She passed that trait along. My mother was always my best friend. I could tell her anything. Now she always offered her advice and many times I didn't take that advice. The truth is , that my Mom would always end up being right. I miss those days. Our conversations are short now and most of the time, she doesn't even remember what we talk about. In the past year, I loned for my mother's advice. I loned for our heart to heart talks that made things better. I loned for her wisdom and understanding. But most of all I loned for her prayers. My mother was a prayer warrior. No one understands about things like your Mom. I am so thankful today to have had a mother who instilled in me the love of God. She brought me up and taught me about God and his love. She taught me that when times are tough, that God is a constant. She taught me that the world holds nothing compared to God. She taught me to live my life by God's principles and to stand firm. She taught me to always stand on God's word! She taught me to be a praying Mother. I thank God for my mother. I'm so thankful that God showed me favor in giving me a Godly mother. As a mother, we may not always make the right decisions, but if leave it in God's hands , He will make the right decision. Be true to God and not the world. Do the right thing and not what is popular. Know that there will be times that your children think you don't know anything. But also know that God is in control and He knows everything. Give your Mom a big hug today and treasure each moment that you have with her. Tell Jesus just how much you appreciate his precious gift of sacrifice. Being a mother is about loving your child/children more than loving yourself. Thank you God for giving me a precious mother! A mother that loves you more that anything . Thank you for a mother who gave to her family and never asked for anything back. Lord thank you that my Mom was an example of you. Lord today I ask that your blessings fall upon her and all of her family. I pray that as each day comes and she loses a little more of her past, that she never loses a memory of you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Weathered Wood of Life

Have you ever driven down the road and God places an object to catch your eye? When you look at this object, God begins to speak to your heart. Last week I was riding while my husband was driving and we passed by an old barn. It was a beautiful barn or should I say it was beautiful at one time. The barn was leaning to one side and the doors were hanging off of the hinges. It had weathered wood and the paint was fading from years of exposure. I know that you are wondering what in the world did you see in that old dilapated barn. This barn was sitting close to a pond surrounded by trees. It was one of the most peaceful settings. I couldn't take my eyes off it. God began to speak to my heart. He reminded me that our lives are so much like that old barn. Our lives have moments that are brand new and perfect. We couldn't ask for anything else. We have it all! The paint on our life is beautiful and it covers any imperfections. Our lives are constructed out of the best of woods and it makes us strong. We are so strong that we think we can handle any storm that may occur. We are a tower of strength. But as we move through life, the elements of life begin to attack our paint. Our wood becomes weak and all of those things that protected us from storms, no longer would keep us safe. Our doors begin to fall off and our structures( family,marriages,friends,and finances) began to weaken and lean. When everything becomes more important than maintenance of our structure, it begins to wither. Slowly our barn begins to fall apart, one piece at a time. One day we wake up and so much needs to be done that we just throw our hands up in the air. This didn't happen overnight. We are overwhelmed at how this happened to us. God reminded me that we must be diligent at all times. When we take our focus off of our Saviour, our lives begin to fall apart. We have to be in tune with Him. We must listen as he speaks to us. But we must also be sure that He is speaking to us. The Lord can take all of those pieces of wood that begin to fall off and he can make them brand new. He can make our lives stronger than we could ever imagine. He will paint our lives with love, hope, faith, and joy! Our sweet Saviour will give us strength to stand when we think we have no strength left. He is our shelter, our peace, our everything! He will lead us to those peaceful streams and He will give us rest from the struggles of life. He makes me lie down in (fresh, tender) green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters (Psalms 23:2). The Lord is the beauty of this life! Many of you that know my family, know that the last couple of years have been a struggle. We have encountered pain and sadness of watching our loved ones struggling with health, marriages, and everyday life. But through all of it, my God has been a constant. I reflect back on his scripture, God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away (Revelations 21). There will come a day and soon that we will no longer have to face these problems. We will no longer have to suffer pain and sorrow. There will be no more tears to fall from our eyes and our hearts will no longer be broken. Our loved ones that are sick will be made whole and broken hearts will be mended. I no longer will have to see my loved ones struggle with hurt and pain. I want to be like that barn and be able to stand whatever storm passes my way. I may have a few boards to fall off but in the end, I'm still standing. My Sweet Saviour, I pray today that you take our struggles and make them joys. Lord I thank you for each broken heart, dissapointment, pain, and struggle that you have given to me and my family. Lord we know that through you, we will be made more than conquerors. Let us put our lives in your hands and give us the wisdom to follow you in whatever direction you may take us. Let us be a testimony of your mercy and grace. Lord may we acknowledge the strength that you have given us to overcome any obstacle that we may encounter. All praise and honor goes to you! Amen