Missing My Mommy

On Sunday I had some tearful moments.  I was thinking about how next Sunday will be Mother's Day and how I cannot share it with my mother.  In my adult life I enjoyed taking her out for brunch on Mother's Day.  Then when I became a mom, she insisted on taking me out and lavishing me with gifts to celebrate "the great mother" that I was to her grandchildren.  That is just the kind of woman she was.  She was so giving and loving - my best friend.

When Jesus finally took her home to heaven after her two-year battle with pancreatic cancer, I was so happy that her suffering was finally over.  I knew that she now had a new and perfect body and that she was doing what made her happiest: singing worship songs to Jesus.  Only now she was actually face to face with her loving Savior!  Now, as Mother's Day approaches this continues to bring me comfort and I am also reminded of some miracles that have taken place since her passing.

My husband and I have such a burden for our family and friends who do not know Jesus.  We long for them to have the peace and joy that only He can bring. We want to spend eternity in heaven with them.  As hard as it is, we have often prayed that at any cost, we would like to see these loved ones come to have faith in Jesus.  Through my mom's illness and in her passing, we know of one stranger and two family members who accepted Jesus as their savior.  Our "at any cost" mindset was tested and I can tell you that I still feel that way.  It is where people spend eternity that matters; not how long they remain here on earth!

After nearly two years with my mom gone, my dad realized how much he missed laughter in the house.  He decided to join an Internet dating site (which if you know my dad, this alone is an act of God).  Within a week he met a woman and they married sixteen days later.  I thought he was crazy!  Now, one year later, I see that he was not crazy.  This was the plan God had for him.  My new step-mom is such a blessing!  She accepted my family with open arms and my children LOVE their new grandma!  In addition, my dad had a medical emergency at home one day, and I believe that if it wasn't for her being there with him, he would have died too.

So, I am approaching this Mother's Day both with tears and rejoicing.  I am grateful for the mother who loved me so dearly, I rejoice for those saved by her testimony, and I thank God for the step-mom He has blessed my family with.  But for my own loss, I also cry.

For everything there is a season,

    a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

    A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

    A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

    A time to grieve and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4