My Mother

A Mother's Love

As we are thinking of mother's day this weekend, my thoughts turn toward my mother.

 She will be 86 this year and I am so grateful to God that He has let her stay with us a little longer. 

She has been the strong silent rock that has been faithful to her family for many years. My dad has been gone a few years now but she continues to live life to the fullest. 

She told me, "I don't know why the Lord keeps me here now, except to pray". 

My mother has long been a prayer warrior. She has stormed the throne of God for many people. She contends for us, her family on a daily basis. 

One of the many memories I have as a teenager that  has  helped shape who I am today, was walking into the kitchen on Wednesdays and seeing my mother and her good friends (Betty, Elenore, Dorothy and Gloria), around the table with scarves on their heads, praying... Powerful women of God, praying for their husbands, children, friends and nation. Contending in the courtroom of the most high... It is why and who I am today. My mother's strength goes beyond her Swedish roots, they lie in knowing the faithfulness of her God. 

She was not one to sit and talk much, we didn't pour our hearts out to each other but she was always there if I needed to. She is quick to say I love you and that is all it takes some times. Her actions speak louder than her words. It has been by example that I knew how to be a mother. It has been by her actions that taught me to know what to do in hard circumstances. 

Life can be difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible to handle, as my mother knows. I have watched my mother bury her oldest son, when he was only 18 years old with strength and grace. Praising God in all things with thanksgiving in her heart. That only comes from a heart so grounded in the love of God, that she totally trusts him for whatever comes her way. 

I remember, 13 years ago when my daughter had the twins premature. It was many weeks of not knowing what the next day would bring. They were barely 2 pounds and hanging on to life by a thread. Little by little they grew stronger and each hurdle was taken down by prayer and the wonders modern medicine. They finally came home and we not really knowing what to expect, we handled one problem after the next. My daughter was a brilliant mother, that first year with babies that cried much, slept less and could hardly keep their food down. The day came when a call from the doctor told her the boys had severe brain damage. Cerebral Palsy. They will be highly disabled, never to speak or walk or eat.

 Luke

Zachary

 I will never forget that phone call from my daughter, she crying and me saying I will be right over. As a mother how do you handle that moment, what do you say... how do you give hope to your daughter, as a mother. My strength cometh from the Lord and my mother... I did what my mother would have done... I said what my mother would have said... I knew what to do because my mother had given me that gift. 

The boys are a gift from the most high God and we will praise and thank him for all things. We will love them all the more. 

Those boys have strengthened our family and bound us together in love. The Lord has truly blessed us with all our grandchildren but the boys have been a true lesson in perspective. How thankful we are and humbled by the love that has been given to us.

 so but this too, we glory in tribulations also knowing that suffering produces endurance: and endurance, tested character and tested character, hope and hope never disappoints us; for through the Holy Spirit that has been given us, God's love has flooded our hearts. Romans 5:3

The one gift that out shines all of the many gifts and talents my mother has given to her family, is the gift of loving God first. She has been a loving and faithful servant to Jesus Christ 

and for that I say thank you mom... I love you.

Wishing you a most blessed Mother's Day!


I have been blessed beyond measure...

Blessings,
Rebecca

I am linking with Inspiration Friday at Common Ground with my friend Debra to share all my inspiration.