“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.”
1 John 4:16
It’s nearly mom’s birthday. Every year I read the cards in the stores and shed a few tears. This time of the year has been a challenge for me since I lost my mom ~ Mother’s Day is not the same. After eleven years you’d think there would be a lessening of the sadness, but it lingers…Along with the sadness, I have a thousand happy memories. I have pictures of her, videos of her, and I see her in the faces of so many family members…my aunt, my nieces, my granddaughter, my brothers…I hear her laughter, her words of encouragement…
I hear her sweet voice saying,
“You can do anything! I know you can do this.”
“God has a purpose for EVERYTHING.”
Mother loved getting the family together.
Mother loved the fried shrimp at RED LOBSTER, so we usually celebrated Mother’s Day there.Dad would order a plain baked potato (no kidding).
She loved Artie Shaw’s “Frenesi,” an old recording from the ’40’s.
She loved her plants and had a seriously successful green thumb.
She loved her family beyond all reason and logic.
And she loved her Lord with all that she was.
Which leads me to this…
They say that a mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom. If that’s the case, then the primary lesson we learned from Mother was this:
Love extravagantly.
Love unconditionally.
Love the unlovely.
Love when there’s no reason to love.
Love whether love’s returned or not.
Love because it’s the right ~ and the best~ thing to do.
Love because love has its own rewards.
Love because it will provide a soft pillow when you rest at night.
Love because you bring joy to others by doing it.
Love because loving will forever change lives.
Love because you know God’s love, and because His love can change this world.
THIS was my mom.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ! John 5:11
Thanks, Mother, for teaching me what matters most in this world! I will never forget the lessons I learned at your knee. You weren’t just part of our home. You were our home. And the best part of arriving in Heaven will finally be that I’m home again ~ because I’ll be with you.
What a beautiful tribute to your mom! My mom went to be with the Lord 32 years ago & I still ache with longing sometimes- especially when a new grandchild or great grandchild is born- how she would love them- what a beyondwonderful reunion day we will have some day! love you sweet friend!
Thank you for reading this. That longing never goes away. How thankful I am that we can look forward to a joyous reunion some day! Love you too!
Becky, Thank you for this lovely tribute to your Mother, and reminding me of how important my Mother was and is (in memories) to me. I pray to be a blessing to our children and grandchildren, too. Love you.
Thank you for reading it and for your very kind comment. How blessed we were to have Christian mothers who taught us what real love is. Love you too, Adele!