M O M

...greatly desiring to see thee, being
mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled
with joy;
when I call to remembrance the
unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and
thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded
that in thee also.
II Timothy 1:4,5

Never can we underestimate the influence of Godly mothers and grandmothers. My children had a grandmother by the name of Lois. Every time I read the above verses and see that name, I think of her and thank the Lord for her Godly influence in the lives of our children and all of our family. She was a grandmother who faithfully prayed for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The mother and grandmother of Timothy had such a strong influence in his life as well so that Paul made note of it as he saw their influence in the ministry of a young Timothy who was of such help to Paul.

All of we moms have had some of the same desires for our children at times as we began the adventure of motherhood. God blessed me with three terrific children and each very different in her/his own right:
Jennie: our first baby (adopted at birth), brunette
Beverly: our first-born baby, blond
Johnny: our first boy, red hair

Each had different personalities and interests. Even though they may have wondered at times, I loved them dearly and still do. My frustration with motherhood was that I had no idea how to be a good mother. I wanted the same thing for my children that most mothers want for theirs: that they would grow healthy, educated, have healthy marriages and happy children. More than all of those frills of life, I like other Christian mothers desired more than anything that at the proper time, each of my children would come to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Along with that, I hoped they would grow to be strong Christians who delighted in a close and growing relationship with Jesus. I knew if they had that relationship, they would be equipt to meet life. They have given me every reason to be pleased with each of them.

I recently found the most beautiful bookmark at a Christian book store. I used resources from one of my children to purchase it. It has flowers and butterflies, some of which are in 3-D. On one side of the bookmark is a statement I like:

“A mother's love is a garden where the sun
always shines and the season is always spring.”

On the other side are two brief statements:

“Mothers hold a child's hand awhile
and their hearts forever?"

“Mothers plant the seeds of love that
help us bloom forever.”

On the bottom of each side of the bookmark is the word MOM. As I was sitting in church last Sunday and was turning to the Scripture that applied to the sermon, I took notice of something that made me smile. I had my lovely bookmark sticking out of my Bible, but it was upside down. There was the word MOM, but it suddenly had become a different word. On both sides of the bookmark, the upside down word read “WOW.” I know that wasn't the word that was intended, but I must admit that I forgot for the moment the Scripture I was to look up. I was suddenly finding myself thinking of the WOW it has been being a mom to my three children. I've had so many WOW moments that include first steps, candy corn rewards for successful potty training, school accomplishments, salvation and baptisms, graduations, surgeries (all three),courtships, marriages, birth of children and on and on it goes. It's the similar WOW moments other mothers have experienced just as I have.

My regrets have to do with my failures...raised voices, impatience, not listening as I should have, critical when not necessary, harsh with discipline and perhaps other mistakes made by parents everywhere. Somehow God allowed my children to survive me and to benefit from my mistakes, but that's because they are WOW children. There is no way they can ever know the prayers, lost sleep, tears, teaching, hopes and dreams as a MOM I had and continue to have for the three of them.

We often won't know some of the things that have stuck in the minds and hearts of our children as a result of their rearing process. My mother will never know what a couple of trips to the Smoky Mountain National Park meant to a very little girl who fell in love with the trees and streams of that place. Today it's where my husband and I live. There were other lasting things through the years she impressed on my mind and spirit. She was a WOW-MOM more often than she knew.

To those of you MOMs who read this, have the happiest of Mother's Days. You may or may not hear from your children, but rest in the fact that you've so often been that WOW person in their lives. God knows of your loving care and concern through the years and it's Him we all want to please. We also know that parenthood is for life, so let's continue to WOW those children of ours through our prayers, love and influence.

Happy Mother's Day !!!

Dear Father, You're the perfect parent setting always the perfect example for us to follow. More than anything, no matter what, You are consistent in Your love for us no matter how we mess up. You are our Abba Father and we thank You more than we can say. We love You!...in Jesus precious name....Amen