Proverbs 1:8 -"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching."
Proverbs 31:30 -"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
My mother had passed away on December 28, 2000 after suffering from a stroke. She was a dressmaker who had sewn dresses with so much passion. She was also our "father" during those times that my dear father was away sailing as a Radio Operator in Greek shipping vessels.
She would wake up early in the morning to start sewing dresses until late at night. How adeptly she would cut the clothing material with precision and would create a masterpiece everytime! Much to her customers' satisfaction!
She loved going to church. All the hardships we went through as a family, she always would pour her heartaches to the Lord. She had taught me to grow up having that "reverential fear" to the Lord. Living in a country with Catholicism as the dominant religion, she went to church, guarded with the rosary beads, praying all the time or at our home, when she was done with her work. She gave her heart to the Lord in His perfect time. If she has compassion before, the more she had after surrendering to the Lord. The people who had hurt her, God made her to have a loving heart, instead of those hurt!
Yes, that's my mother, the Proverbs 31 woman who made many wonderful memories with her children. Memories that she had sewn to become masterpieces that we carry in our hearts even to this day that she's not here physically with us.
My brothers and I were so blessed to have "one of the best MOMs" here in this world. I miss my mother every day! But thanks be to God for His wonderful promise of eternal life, I know our love doesn't end here. Thanks be to God because of that, I have this hope I cling to, that we will reunite and that I will be able to hug her again and kiss her, the way she hugged and kissed me...
I was looking for the poems I had written for her which became my outlet to ease the loneliness I had after she went home to the Lord. Instead, I found this "book marker" my son had given to me when he was only 6 years old [he's 14 now] on a Mother's Day. It still brings me smiles and warms my heart every time...
front of the book marker:
back of the book marker:
God has given us many kinds of relationships: husband and wife, best friends, families, etc. But there is just something special about the bond of love shared between a "mother and her child".
God gave us "mothers" to help us or guide us, her children, grow into maturity as we live the lives God had given us in the first place. As children, we learn so much from the hearts of our mothers that endure, hearts that understand, hearts that do not see faults and are always ever forgiving, hearts that believe in our strengths and disregard the weaknesses, and hearts that truly love her children for who they are. Mothers are like a "big band-aid dressing" that just covers all the "boo-boo's" in life we sustain. At times of triumphs and successes, they are our personal "cheering squad".
I can only hope and pray that with the guidance I need to impart with my child, that he also sees God's love and wisdom through me.
So, "Happy Mother's Day" to all of you wonderful "Moms" out there! And I'm not only talking about mothers who have conceived children. I know some who don't have kids but have motherly instincts in them. I consider them as "mothers", too because I think it's not our physical achievements of giving births to babies that should qualify but of womens' hearts' abilities to love as mothers. So I remember you, as well. It takes a very unique and special person to become a "mother". Because it's never easy. But to those who commit their motherly instincts with the Lord, He will always direct your steps.
Don't take your mothers for granted. Every day is precious while they are here with you. Say "I love you", hug them, kiss them, not only on Mother's Day but every time you have an opportunity. Same thing with your children. Treat them well and always make the most of everything with them because they will always look up to you as their mothers.
This is a song I had written for my child on August 2004. As I was writing it, I remembered how the Lord has loved us first. It felt like He was singing it to me, the Author of love. No wonder that we, mothers, can learn so much from Him when we commit our ways to Him, even our ways of nurturing our children with an unconditional love.1 Corinthians 16:14 -:Let all that you do be done with love."
Let All That We Do
You came into my life
The joy that you bring overwhelms me
It's not easy to find our way
When we face the trials that come every day
Chorus:
Let's remember, now and forever
Let all that we do be done in love
We are all loved first by God above
Let all that we do come from our hearts
As we look at uncertain times
We will be strong, we will be fine
For in perfect love, there'll be no fear
Our love will grow year after years
[repeat Chorus]
Let all that we do be done with love........be done with love......
RRRS 8/11/04
