“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12
This devotional is going to be a little personal today, I thought I’d share some thoughts from my heart about my “late Mom.”
This is the first Mother’s Day without my Mom…and to tell you the truth, it’s kind of “yucky!” I knew that this day would arrive one day, but that doesn’t lessen the sting or ache when it does come.
In Exodus 20:12, the LORD clearly outlines to His children that we “must honor” our Mother and Father, and to do so will reap rewards of a long life, or as long as the LORD deems we stay on earth according to His purpose.
When we honor our parents on earth we are walking in favor with God and giving the Father honor and open reverence by complying with His wishes. So, when we love our parents, openly, and respectfully, we are not only honoring and loving “them” we are honoring and loving the LORD our GOD.
I was quite fortunate to have had loving, kind and happy go lucky parents. They were responsible, caring, devoted to each other and their family, and provided and met our needs on a daily basis.
My parents led by example in terms of morals, scruples and having strong faith while rearing their “three” children. When I look back at my childhood it’s filled with memories of fun, summer time vacations to the beach, amusement parks, BBQ’s in the backyard, swimming pools, and winter wonderful fun days of building snowmen and drinking hot cocoa.
When I would come in from frolicking in the snow, my feet and nose frigid, my Mom would dry and rub my feet with lotion, and put heavy socks on my feet, and give me hot cocoa with marshmallows and cookies! Oh, what wonderful times!
I concentrate on my “mom’s part” right now because it’s Mother’s Day. She was my companion for all things, from my first breath. Up until two days before she died, she was concerned I didn’t receive a birthday card from her and worried where it might have been. “I mailed it a week ago, I hope you get it” She was in pain and two days from dying, and she was worried about me and my card!
I was blessed, blessed, blessed beyond explanation, and I had loving parents, thanks be to God, of whom I embrace memories of joy, and collective wisdom in which I was taught.
My beautiful Mom and my Handsome Dad…together again, in Paradise, forever. I miss them both and will love them forever. I will respect them all the days of my life, and I embrace their values and their lessons of life they taught me. They live here on earth in my siblings, my nieces, my nephew, and my heart. They live on in eternity where I’ll see them again.
Ma, I love you. Thank you for your unconditional love and devotion to all of us, thanks for the endless games of Candy Land and Mille Bourne, and for watching those screwball comedies with me. Thanks for providing everything I needed, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. You were the best Mother any child could hope for, and I was the fortunate one to be your “baby” and your little girl forever more.
Happy Mother’s Day in heaven. I will love you, always~
Thank you LORD for your grace and love and placing me with the best parents any child could want.
I LOVE YOU LORD –
All glory and honor to You and You alone.
“The following is a poem dedicated to my beautiful Mom and all of the beautiful Mother’s out there, those living, and to those who have been called home…”
A Mother’s Love~
A Mother is a life long friend
She’ll love you to the very end.
A Mother is always there
She truly will always care.
A Mother will protect and hold you
Her love is honest open and true.
A Mother’s love is gentle and strong
She will love you even when you’re wrong.
A Mother’s love is baking your favorite dinner
She will love you even if you’re the world’s biggest sinner.
A Mother’s love is timeless and pure
Her smile and charm part of the allure.
A Mother’s love knows nothing about age
Her wisdom and experience will fill many a page.
Most of all we’ll always feel a Mother’s love
even when she is living high above…
C D Swanson (c)
2016