A Tribute!

Today I get to join my friend Jenny at Special Considerations in Thank You Thursday. Jenny reminds us that in a society where we spend so much of our time thinking of ourselves we need to stop and say thank you to those who have influenced us, helped, supported, encouraged or just been kind to us in some way. So, today I take time to honor and say thank you to someone who has influenced every aspect of my life.

As I write this I stand on the brink of a new decade in my life. I pray it is filled with peace, joy and gratefulness. I also pray that it is filled with special moments with my mom. How could I start this new season without saying thank you to the woman who carried me for nine months and has been instrumental in helping to shape my life.

Mom, if I were to write you a thank you letter this is what it would say.

Thank you! You have been a guiding force in my life as you taught me to love Jesus and hold on to Him through any trial or joy I would ever face. I remember as a small child,though dad didn't allow us to go to church, you always talked about God and Jesus and how important they are to us. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't love Jesus. I don't know if you realize that you made Him my friend when there was no one else. I have been able to answer God's call to ministry because you set a solid foundation in my life as I grew up. There is nothing else more important than that in raising a child.

Our home was not always pleasant growing up but you were able to raise four wonderful Jesus loving kids who, though each of us has had times of faltering, have all served the Lord in different capacities through our adult years. You now have 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren and I watch you tell them the same things about God and Jesus as you told us. Many of them are already serving the Lord and the others I know will follow because you again are helping to set a solid foundation in Christ in their lives.

Mom, I also want to say I know the hurt you have felt in the loss of your littlest child whom you were never able to wrap your arms around. The one who you never got to tell about Jesus. I know you have struggled with that for nearly 40 years. Your littlest child got to see Jesus before ever taking a single breath and is helping Him prepare a place for each of us someday. Mom, I pray you find peace in knowing that one day (NOT YET!!!) you will get to see your littlest angel heavenly body to heavenly body and finally wrap your spirits together. What a day that will be, when we all get to see the angel we lost.

Mom, thank you for the beautiful sun shiny day we sat out on the back patio of your home (and Ken and Cindi's) and you acknowledged the abuse I went through as a child. No details need to be shared but I will never forget that day as it changed the way I look at life now. Healing began with that acknowledgement.

Thank you for raising kids who have known how to have fun together. As I began looking at pictures this past week, I found most of them are of all of us laughing and being silly together. Many of us have been through difficult times these past few years but knowing how to laugh has helped ease the pain.

"Laughter (A cheerful heart) doeth good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22

I could sit here all morning writing specific times when you made my life easier because of your presence but I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being my mom, for giving me life, for encouraging me in times I wanted to give up, for teaching me about God, for being faithful when it would have been easier to run, for loving through trials, for teaching me moral absolutes, especially in a world that does not seem to acknowledge that, but also loving me when I made mistakes.

You are a mom many would love to have but you are ours and I am grateful that God chose you for us. Thank you for being my mom for 50 incredible years. I LOVE YOU!!!!

Certainly Considering It All Joy,

Cindy