May 13, 2007

What My Mom Did Right

We all know that no mother is perfect. I for one, have failed many times, and have had to ask forgiveness. There are often days where I wish I could turn back time, and respond the way I should have, instead of reacting the way I did with my kids. Thank God for forgiveness and a fresh new start every day!!!

In honor of Mother's Day and most specifically my mom. I want to declare and thank God for the many things she did right.

These are the things that have made my mom extra special to me, and things I am truly grateful for. Through the years she has modeled some pretty incredible things to me, and here are a few of the things she has done right.

1. Prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed. I would often come home from school to either finding her on her knees crying out to God, or I would find pages of notes on top of her bible. I knew she had been with Jesus. It gave me a holy fear. I could never pull anything over on my mom. She has taught me to value prayer and the word to be my compass for life.

2. She always made every birthday extra special. Each year I had a unique cake, money in the cake, or a special shape. No one had a birthday in our home without feeling special. Actually every holiday is always an extra special event.

3. She's the Martha Stewart plus any other gourmet person all wrapped up in one. Everyone who has a meal at my mom's home feels like a king and queen. Its her love language. She doesn't try to impress, she tries to make everyone feel extra special and like they have been treated like royalty.

4. How my mom has stepped in over the years at the right time, to help when I was ill and had 3 little kids to care for. Or when we were swamped with ministry needs, mom would come and be with the kids so we could serve. My mom has always prayed for our ministry opportunities and has never interfered, and only given advice when asked.

5. How she embrace my handicapped child and learned how to tube feed and lots of other medical procedures in order to be able to help. Even though she was afraid, she pressed through and learned so she could help me survive.

6. How she is so proud of my dad, and encourages him to pursue his dreams.

7. How she has made ordinary weekends with nana and poppie into super special memories that are still embedded in my kids minds. She was able to give them, what I did not have time for, due the strain of having a special needs child.

8. How she allowed me to be absolutely in love with my Grandma Purves. She never showed any jealousy, and only encouraged our relationship to deepen and grow.

9. How she can organize absolutely anything, and scrub the dirt off of anything!!!!!

10. How she has welcomed my hubby as her very own son, how she carries him in prayer and speaks words of life over him.

11. How she is always trying to learn and grow and to allow the Lord to transform her. I am proud of her pursuit of wholeness and God's desire for her future.

A Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

9 comments:

Jen said...

Mom's are awesome! Happy mother's Day Cheryl....and Mrs. Redner!

Williams Family Blog said...

What a special mom you have...Happy Mothers Day!!!

Karen

Rhonda said...

That was beautiful Cheryl! Your mom is a wonderful hostess, cook, caregiver, prayer warrior and encourager. Hmmmm, and so are You!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Roxanne said...

It sounds like you're a lot like your mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Shaun and Holly said...

like mom, like daughter! You are both awesome!

Cathy Fry said...

Sounds like you had an awesome mom as a role model! Hope you had a great mothers day yourself. Enjoyed stopping by your site will probably be back to visit again some time.

Praise and Coffee said...

Precious thoughts Cheryl.
I am coming back soon to read your past posts I missed- I've been so busy, but I love your words!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sue!! Look forward to getting to know you more through your site too! I've been a little busy as well!

Amy said...

Cheryl. How precious this is. I hope your mom gets a chance to read it..
You are very much like her I see...what a blessing you have handed down to Alyssa, Matt and Lindsay!!
MUAH!