HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb

I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made; your works are

wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the

depths of the earth, your eyes saw my

unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your

thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:13-17

I could go back over the course of my life and tell soo many memories of my mother that it would fill a book. And like most daughters I am sure, MOST of them are good, but we have had our “hard moments” as well, haha. But as I sat dwelling this morning on what to write about today, I decided OK, I will just share the first special moment I have had with my mom that comes to my mind. So here it is…

It was the morning my first son Joe was born. For those of you who follow my blog you know that I was a young, just turned 18 year old, unmarried girl. It had been a REALLY REALLY rough 9 months needless to say, and I had been through a lot. I had spent the last 3 months of my pregnancy trying to make sure that keeping my baby was the right thing to do. My parents were careful about it being MY decision and so had said very little to influence me one way or another. I felt guilty in more ways than one. My family was a LARGE one and my parents more than had their hands full already. 6 children with the youngest only 4 meant our house was already VERY full, and bringing yet another baby into the mix just didn’t seem quite right. I agonized over the decision. It is one that most young girls should NEVER have to make. But finally, after much prayer and deliberation, I settled into my choice to raise my baby even if it meant I had to do it all by myself, for the rest of my life. How I praise God that wasn’t to be the case. But I have to say I was really worried that my mother wasn’t exactly thrilled about this decision; not that she didn’t want me to keep the baby of course, but just that she knew if anyone did how hard a job that would be for a very young girl with no husband. She didn’t say anything negative to me, it was just she didn’t say anything at all. She helped me prepare, and I determined in my mind that the work and responsibility would never fall on her shoulders. My doctor had scheduled to induce me as Joe was already a little over due, and so the night before I washed and curled my hair (back in the day when you had to wear curlers to bed to achieve such a look, haha) and shaved my legs and even painted my finger and toe nails. I jumped into bed around 11 pm and within 5 minutes labor began on its own. I will never forget the moment of panic that came over me. My mom and I left together for the hospital, and the long, hard night began. I remember my mom doing her very best to talk and keep me diverted. Making silly jokes and trying to make me laugh. Encouraging me and holding my hand when I had finally resorted to tears near the end. I can still see the look on her face which clearly said I would jump in that bed and do this for you if I could. When I was wheeled out of the delivery room with my new son in my arms both my mom and dad stood in the hall waiting for me grinning from ear to ear. My mom had tears streaming down her cheeks and her joy was apparent for all to see. She began making calls to all her family and friends rejoicing in the birth of her first grandson. My mom was an UNMEASURABLE help to me in those early days and weeks and I will never forget it. I know that Joe holds a special place in her heart, and their bond is unbelievably strong to this very day. The road of motherhood is a long, sometimes complicated journey. There are moments of joy unexplainable, and times of frustration and hardship along the way. Times spent on your knees in prayer as there is nothing else that can be done, times when your heart simply bursts with pride and times when you wonder if you will ever make it through. But one thing I know for sure, motherhood is one of life’s very best blessings.  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my wonderful Mother, who has blessed me more than I could ever explain!

And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all you mom’s out there!! May the Lord bless each and every one of you.  ENJOY this special day with your mother's and families, and for all of you who have lost your dear mom's, I pray your hearts are flooded with the memories that make your hearts glad.