This year marks the first time in 48 years that I won’t be able to call and wish my mother a “Happy Mother's Day!” But I do take a lot of comfort in knowing that she is having the best Mothers’ Day celebration ever where she is now.
I also realize that God has richly blessed me through my years with some pretty awesome Mom types who still pour into my life in so many ways. There's not enough room on the whole "interweb-thingy" for me to post all of the pictures of the women who have positively influenced my life. Teachers, Sunday School teachers, friends, adopted family members, and so many others have had a hand in "raising" me. Not all have been mothers, but they have in some caring way nurtured my growth. So if I may, I’m going to take just a moment of personal reflection here:
To my mother (Marilyn), my wife (Amanda), Grandmother, Mammom, Aunt Leda, Aunt Norma, Aunt Sue, Mammaw Cooksey, Grams Brawner, Aunt Jean, Aunt Jo, Aunt Lois, Mom (Glynese), Mammaw Rigdon, Noemi Figueroa, and so many others... Thank you! I give thanks to God for you, and pray that your Mother's Day will be as blessed as you have always made me feel.
Okay, personal gratification now over, who might you be able to give thanks to God for putting in your life? We all have biological parents. But we don’t all enjoy the blessings of those parents being the most faithful or loving relationships we get to experience. But if we look back over the course of time we can all find that special person that God has put into our lives at just the right moment to fill in some of the gaps. Be they neighbors, church mothers, or even fathers who are single parents; they are the people God allows to get you past some of the hardest times. Take a few moments to pray in thanks over them now. And then take a few moments to get in touch with them and tell them what they mean to you.
You see, thankful hearts over the memories of how they made you feel, are the catalyst God will use to stoke your desire to make others feel the same way. To love them as only a good parent can. To see the best in them as only a Mother and God have the ability to do. God willing, you will become that kind of “Mom” not only for your biological children, but for all of God’s children that He drops into your life. So I offer thanks to God for you in advance, and say:
"Happy Mother’s Day to you whom He will use to change eternities!"
Love in Christ always,
Chris
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