Reflecting on My Mother...

I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was at Children’s Hospital to have my tonsils removed, and this well-meaning nurse was attempting to draw some blood. Now, I want to say right up front…I like nurses. They’re nice people, and I appreciate the difficult job they do. That said, either this nurse was having a bad week, or my vein wasn’t cooperating, or she just wasn’t very good. Whatever the reason, I spent quite a few minutes in agony, until my mother demanded she leave and send in another to do the job.

Then there was the time I chased that ball down the hill and into the street, only to stumble over the curb and land on my right knee, tearing my jeans and the flesh underneath. (I can still show you the scar.) In tears, I ran home where Dr. Mom was ready to fly into action. Why is it that relief comes from your mother and no one else?

Then there was the time I rode my bike into the street right in front of that car. Laying in Emergency at the hospital with a broken left leg and a slight concussion, my strongest memory is when my parents arrived at my side. As any child might be, I was upset because of the trouble I had caused. But, quickly I realized they were only concerned about me…not about having to leave the restaurant early.

As Mother’s Day approaches each year, I am flooded with many such memories. Times of broken toys, broken bones and broken hearts. The one constant is that my mother was always there. She was there to protect, to mend, to encourage, to reassure. And there’s nothing quite like hearing your mother say “You did great!”

Isn’t that just like God? He’s here to protect you, to heal you, to encourage you, to reassure you. And, oh, the joy on that day when we’ll hear Him say, “Well done!” Mothers have the unique opportunity to show a side of God that we’ll see nowhere else. I’m grateful He gave me the mother I have. I’m grateful we have become the friends we are today. And though I don’t say it often enough, I say it now…

Thanks Mama. I Love You!

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you...

Influence...

I Timothy 4:12 "...you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

It's something we forget about, the influence we have on others. Especially surprising is a child's revelation about some characteristic they've seen. Children watch... and learn. Take Dalton for example. I teach elementary school boys on Wednesday night. In addition to lessons about God and missionaries, we play rough and rowdy games, say pledges and such... real man stuff. Tonight was no different, and before we were finished, the girls let out of their class. A couple of them stopped at our door as we finished our closing prayer and started into the room. One of my boys called out, "Hey, no girls aloud!" I smiled proudly, and chuckled to myself, "The 'He-man Woman Haters Club' is alive and well."

As we were leaving, the boys asked if we could go to the gym. They said they wanted to go where the girls were not. I asked why and they responded, "They're bossy." I laughed and said I had to go to choir practice, so they would have to go to the playground with the girls. As we descended the stairs, Dalton said, "Not our sisters... it's..." and named the "bossy" one. Again I smiled, and as we stepped out of the building, they took off running. But Dalton stayed back. As he and I walked, he spoke up again.

"I'm never going to date a girl!"

"Oh?" I replied. "Never?"

He thought for a moment and then said...

"Yeah... like you..."