My Mother's Day Message

Happy Mother's Day to all the blogmoms! Don't let today be the day you think about the time last week when you snapped at the kids in a moment when they were driving you nuts. Sweep the little misunderstanding you had w/that guy you're married to under the rug. Otherwise, the cards will have an opposite effect. Instead of making you feel like the best mom in the world, they'll cause guilt to rise to the surface like cream, gone sour.

When our kids were young, I had this repeating Mother's Day occurrence. I felt so unworthy of the "you're the best"s, the flowers, the breakfast in bed, because inevitably the Saturday before I'd had a spat with I.T.-ologist over something silly, like where to plant the tulips or how long it took to build the Brooklyn bridge. This caused me to spend the day using my angry voice whenever I opened my mouth. Of course the kids noticed. I would think: this Mother's Day special, it's just too much pressure! I can't live up to it.

Usually, the true cause of my dilemma was my inability to give. I am selfish by nature; it is a mental, spiritual and sometimes physical exercise for me to put others' needs and desires before my own. Well, truthfully, I do a pretty good job putting the kids' needs before my own, but when it comes to everyone else, I have my own best interest in mind. My kids are grown now. I didn't argue with I.T.-ologist at all yesterday. We had a very pleasant day exploring a beautiful gardens and sculpture park- my Mother's Day gift one day early. But I still have to be intentional when it comes to letting each member of my family have his or her own dreams and goals, especially with these adult kids I have- they come up with the wildest ideas. I work daily on stepping aside and allowing God to lead in each of their hearts and in mine.

Here is a reflection I wrote a long time ago on a message I heard at church. I'm trying to carry the principles of it within me wherever I go, every day.

At church last Sunday, someone shared this: we speak of "idols" as being the golden calf or money and material things or anything that becomes first place in our lives which puts God second (or third or fourth...depending on how many idols we serve). But what about dreams and goals- especially the ones we have for others, like our spouse or children??? We can cling so tight to the dream that everything- my happiness, success, perceived reputation- hangs on the fulfillment of the dream.

But the Bible teaches that we are to trust God for everything, for the details of each individual day, that whatever he gives for one day will be sufficient for that day- that He knows what He is doing, that He can do what we cannot do and that He always has our best interest in mind. Sometimes, we think we have a person's best interest in mind, but really it is our best interest we have in mind, whether we can admit it or not. God asks us only to cling to what is good- His good Word, to know Him and to love Him by letting him be the full authority over all the aspects of our life. He asks us to teach our children about him and his love and his word and he asks us to love Him and to love one another as he loves us.

In demonstrating real love for someone, you seek to put their desires before your own. There may be pain involved because human emotion is involved, but the deeper joy is really always there for those who set their anchor firmly in the Rock. My life, my body, my mind- are not my own, but have been purchased with a great price- Jesus' shed blood at Calvary- I do not have authority over my life- Jesus does. Every Christian must learn this for him/herself eventually because only then will he/she be able to enjoy the peace and joy that is available to him/her in all circumstances.

This was good teaching for me this week. I'm letting go of another idol and asking God to help me trust him fully. I'm reading his word, so I'll know him better and I'm seeing how faithful (and just, which can be scary) he is and always has been to those who allowed him to have authority in their lives. Followers of old screwed up right and left, but for those who clung to Him and did not forsake Him, God was faithful to show mercy and love.

Natural consequences can be pretty painful and the Bible tells how it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God- he is just. But what He does, He does it out of a deep love for his own, though we cannot always see that. If I train my mind to think about my circumstances in light of the love of my heavenly Father and the truth of his Holy Word, it changes me and I am well. It is well with my soul- you know. It's an exercise worth much more than the weekly trot to Curves.

Have a great Mother's Day everyone!
Heidi