Expending My Soul in Prayer.

II Corinthians 12:15  "And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?"


Today, as I paid my son's (Obamacare) health premium over the phone to a representative online, she went a little overboard I believe in praising me for being a great mom. I reminded her that this was his money, not mine.  I simply was taking care of the transfer for him.

She reminded me to sign him into an account as well, so he could access info online.

"Yep, I already did that, I replied."

Again, she reiterated..."Wow, what a great mom you are!  Wow, I am so impressed...

She went on and on...

"I'm sure you'd do the same for your kids,"  I said.

"I don't have any yet." she replied. "I hope I can be a great mom too one day."

"I'm sure you will.  It's not easy, as you can see...here I am doing what he should be doing!"

"She laughed and said, He's probably out with his friends on a Friday and you're just being a great mom."

Once again, she said those words, "great mom."

Actually, Corey was next door with the neighbor, picking oranges off our tree that hangs in both yards.

Earlier this week, I wrote my son a note and put it in a special lunch I made for him. Funny thing was, he never got the lunch. The note?  ... it finally came to him after going with his dad to another job and then back home again. Reading it, he smiled, and said he very much appreciated the thought.  What I had planned didn't happen, but God still provided a good outcome.

Later this same week, a friend I had asked to pray for Corey quite a few months back, sent me a personal message, asking about him. She was his Sunday School teacher way back when. It felt good to report to her that things between us were so much better. Reflecting on this last year, I can see growth and a "calming down" of the things that usually come between us.

I know this is a result of prayer. My attitude and trust is greater in God's timing and God...I believe is softening his heart.

If I am a "great mom," it is because I serve a "Great God," one who gives me a promise that in His timing, my prodigal child will return to his roots and begin to really grow in the knowledge and sovereignty of His purpose for him.

And so I pray and expend my soul for your soul, dear child of mine.

Lord, We love our children and we are thankful for them. We want them to be happy and so do You, God. I pray for our sons and our daughters. I pray for our prodigals and our precocious, our stubborn and our stumbling, our wise ones and our wise guys, our princesses and princes, our college preps and "still high school drama queens," our lonely hearts and our social media magnets. I pray for the misunderstandings, the "chips on the shoulder," the hurt, the guilt, the unforgiven, the addictions and the anger. Give me (us) wisdom and strength. I give You praise for the beauty that awaits, when You, Lord make all things right, all things great. Help me to be worthy to be called a "great mom," a mom who prayed. Yes, Lord, a mom who prays. Amen.

Prayers, Smiles and Praises

Proverbs 31:30  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." 

It's Mother's Day weekend, a day when the role of mothers is appreciated and generations gather to bestow gifts of flowers and jewelry, chocolate covered strawberries and possibly breakfast in bed. It's a day we pamper, spoil, and love on our moms a little extra.

For most moms, this is a proud day, reflecting and cherishing her brood, or her own mother; the perfect sentiments displayed on a beautifully designed flowery card.

Mother's Day is my hardest holiday, still.  It shouldn't be, but it is.

I tread in those inviting waters of expectation only to slip in the slime of dissapointment.

Time does heal. There are those parts of my Mother's Day picture that no longer are tangible with one son and my own mother in the Lord's presence. I always will miss both of them, thoughts frequently towards memories.

What does the scripture tell us?

A promise of praise awaits the mother who gives respect and honor to the Lord, the giver of her salvation, and exemplifies that in her unselfish deeds and unconditional love for her children, for her family.  I know I still need to work on attitude, and there are days I am emotionally drained. I need to  remember what it says in an earlier verse, "she smiles at the future," (v.25).

The flowers petals will fall, jewelry discarded, the strawberries gobbled up and the bed will be remade every morning, hospital corners and all, by us moms for the next 364 days. I'm not saying that I--you,  are not loved, that these gifts are not sincere.  Tradition and a love language in gifts are important. It's fun to receive a thoughtful gift, but charm fades.

Youth and vigor, active relationships with adult children and the elderly, aging gracefully, (with our sunscreen and moisturizers and trips to the hair salon); becoming a grandmother;  the beauty in motherhood takes on variety of colors and textures, a different aesthetic value.  Let's recognize the beauty within ourselves, for God continues to sculpt us towards His purpose. Vanity is a multi-billion dollar industry. Taking care of our "temple" is biblical, and I know God doesn't mind a little lipstick and mascara.

I focus on the last part of this verse. God hears the prayers of a mother.

From the first time a newborn is held in her arms, as her head hits the pillow every night and as she rises to complete her chores and routines, go to work, mend the tears, bandage the knees, cook and clean, entertain, a mother prays for her children. She prays for her friend's children, she prays for her extended family.

In God's timing, not for the world's eyes and economy, but for God's economy, she shall be praised, promises the Lord.

I know my mother prayed for me.

I prayed for her.

I pray not to receive praise myself,  but to see my children give praise to their Maker.

But, there are words I would like to hear said one day...

"My mother prayed for me, and I pray for her."


Father, thank you for the gift of being a mom. It is a blessing through every good day and every hard day.  I know that You have a plan. Help me to bring You praise in this role. Be with me Lord and give me Your mercies as I miss my mother and my first born. You are not impressed with charm and outward beauty, but Lord, You look on our hearts and see our desire for our children. Help us to trust in You for the continued "raising up;"  that their paths will lead to honoring You in their own walk. May heaven rejoice in the faith of moms. Thank you Father, for Your strength and for Your promise. Amen.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

"Better Late than Never" A Mother's Day Story

Luke 12:40 (NIV) ^"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Maybe if my mother new this verse, it might have quickend her pace. On this Mother's Day, as I remember my mom and all her outstanding qualities, she wasn't perfect. You could count on her being late--very late! 

Because of her chronic lung condition/allergies, she coughed a lot in the morning. In retrospect, I'm sure it wore her out before her day actually began. By the time she was ready to fly out the door though, she didn't miss a beat. Her hair was styled perfect, make-up applied in just the right order, all her clothes clean, coordinated and thought out with shoes to match! She was a stunning professional business woman. 

 About 6 months before her battle with pneumonia took her from us, we went on a trip together to Las Vegas for my birthday. She was probably late getting to my house, then we went shopping for shoes, then hit the outlet mall somewhere on the road to Vegas, and yes, we finally arrived. I remember the first night staying in the MGM Grand and we slept till 11:00 a.m., got down to the breakfast buffet around 1:30ish and sat and talked while eating BREAKFAST for hours, laughing and sharing some of her teenage stories she hadn't told me--couldn't imagine that by the fall, we'd be planning her memorial. 

What a great time we had walking the strip and shopping, checking out all the new hotels. 

On the drive home, we stopped for dinner at Stateline. When we headed out again very late that night, we found the greatest radio station playing "oldies", well it was 70's music from my era and she tried to guess every band. Surprisingly, she got a lot right and knew some of the lyrics. Did you know I went to the Rod Stewart concert and saw Bruce Springsteen with my mother? She got the tickets!  

On the way home from our Vegas trip, keeping each other awake singing, it was so late. Instead of dropping me at home, we figured it would be better if I just went to her house and she'd take me home in the morning. Driving down the freeway, almost to our off ramp, the red light starts whirling in our back windshield, and to our surprise, the CHP blared the bull horn with immediate instructions:  "LADY, PULL OVER NOW!" 

It scared the peejeebies out of us!   

(Officer) "Are you in a hurry Ma'am?"

"No, why do you ask? Our exit is the next one, State College..."

(Officer replies), " It's 3:00 a.m. and I clocked you at 95 mph." 

After a little lecture and instructions from the officer about speed and safety, he was kind enough to just write her a ticket for 85. 

She couldn't get out of the house on time, but my mother put the "pedal to the metal!"  

 

Mom and me at the Bellagio, Las Vegas, May 2000 

Thank you Lord for my mother, Joyce. Mom doesn't have to worry about being ready on time, for in heaven she's already perfectly put together. Trumpets, maybe a little Springsteen announced her arrival. When You come Lord, the Heavens will shout with triumphant glory, no bullhorn needed. I miss you mom and I'll see you when the time is right for me. Here's a request when I do: play a little "Sweet Caroline" for old times.