It’s Mother’s Day—the day we celebrate those that gave us life and love!
It is a bittersweet day for me. We still have my mom with us in body but she no longer knows any of her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. Due to the ravages of Alzheimer’s, she no longer realizes that she has a family. We have lost her while she is still with us.
Mom wasn’t a perfect mother or Christian woman, but I have yet to meet anyone that is perfect. Because she was a wounded soul, she often hurt and wounded those closest to her. What my mom did well was lead us to God through involvement in church, her leadership in neighborhood children’s Bible clubs, and family devotions that included memorizing Scripture. For that commitment, I will be forever thankful to her and to the Lord.
Over the last several months, I have been sorting through boxes of pictures and notebooks that belonged to my parents. In one of the boxes, I found a tattered journal. Mom had used it to record addresses and phone numbers, sermon notes, to-do lists, and other random items. As I quickly flipped through I came across this journal entry that I think shows the depths of her heart that she was often too afraid to share with others.
October 2003
I stood on the bank of a little stream behind my house and watched the fish on their way to the spawning grounds.
My what a struggle as they fought their way to lay their eggs to carry on another generation. God placed this drive within their body in order to keep from becoming extinct and provide a new generation.
As I watched and compared their lives to the lives of a child of God as he fought the trials of life to eventually reach the goal to finish his earthly life at the feet of his God.
Yes we are battered and bleeding from the trials, disappointment of life, sickness, that life hands us. But after the battles God brings the sunshine and again we can see each trial brings us to our goal, seeing the face of Jesus and helps us to leave a legacy to those who come behind.
Dear God—May we leave a heritage and life behind us so that another generation can find their way to God.
Thank you, Lord, for the legacy that she has left us even as we are losing her.
I share her prayer that I may leave such a legacy as I strive to serve the Lord and reach out to my family, friends, church, and community through my heart for home.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Pam