Getting Used To It

  

( Mother's Day last year)

     Mother's Day is coming.  In my heart it has always been more about honoring MY Mom rather than being honored.  But I have always cherished the cards, gifts, flowers, Brunches out, and all the ways my boys and hubby have blessed me on that day.

     So I found myself a little blue about this Mother's Day.  After all, my Mom is thousands of miles away.  My oldest son in away at college still.  My younger son has been invited to the lake with another family for the weekend... Wahhhh!  

     But, I've been coaching myself that (Sniffle) I had better just get used to it.  This is how it's supposed to work.  Kids grow up.  They have lives of their own.  I've been called to follow my husband, even if it means moving away from the extended family.  Deal with it.  

     But my perspective is clearing.  I can be taught.  Thank goodness my gentle Shepherd takes His time with me.  There is actually a joyous side to my empty house on this day of honor.  My young men are happy, have friends, are being educated, are making memories of their own.  They are preparing for a lifetime of building the Kingdom.  They are doing exactly what I've spent the last 20 years training them to do: Being men, independent, strong, faithful.  The fact that my parents are far away right now means that they are happy, healthy, and living the life they've been called to.  I'm living in all the blessings, steeped in them actually, of being right where God wants me for His glory.  

     So I have the privilege to have Bruce Frank all to myself for the afternoon, for life.   It's a new day, a new phase.  Less cooking,less laundry,fewer late nights waiting up.  More dinners for two on the patio, more freedom to pursue this city for the gospel.  It's a different dynamic but deeper friendship in the marriage and with these two young men to whom we are handing over the reigns of life.  

      Yes, its very satisfying knowing I've done my job well and a new one starts.  I honor my Mother and Mother-in-law with gifts from afar and words on the phone and gratitude in my heart.  This is the process.  Soon, I pray, I will have daughters-in-law to love, Grand babies to spoil and adore, and grown partners in ministry to serve with and pray through the hard times.  Oh yes!  I can quiet the whining to see the blessing. 

     Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all- How will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"  

I have it all!  I really do... and I could get used to that!   Happy Mother's Day to all.

 

Comments

[Mary Crisp]

Oh yes, sometimes I want to feel a little blue too! After all my husband was laid off on Dec. 24th, my mom died of Alzheimers in '08, what a horrible, horrible disease. I would love to be able to pick up the phone and call her. But, I am so thankful for my life. I look around and see so many other situations and I am so thankful and blessed. Our God is an Awesome God! Praise be to him!

[Vivian Tesner]

Lori, I wish you knew how blessed by God you are with your gift of words. And you are so humble and I really believe you don't even realize your talent.
You always bless my heart.