Do not worry about tomorrow...: Mother's Day...

Mother's Day. I used to hate the days, no- WEEKS, leading up to it. The day itself was fun, because I could celebrate my mom and mother-in-law, and grandmothers. I love that part of it. But hearing the endless commercials and conversations all around me during the lead up was almost more than I could take.

And let's not forget that the entire church service on Mother's Day was all about Mothers, almost two full hours of it. It was only my bad attitude that kept from being able to truly enjoy it. I allowed my pity party and lack of contentment to shift my focus. It is a wonderful thing to celebrate Mothers. It just stings a little when you are not one. My plan for several years was to skip the Mothers Day service. I needed to go home and get my food ready for our meal anyway. That was my excuse haha.

Well, this is the year that I will stay for the church service. Even if the whole thing is about how wonderful it is to be a Mother, which I don't think it will be, I have to stay! It's a battle that I am determined to win.

Life has not turned out the way I expected or planned, but if I truly believe what Romans 8:28 says, I will not sink back down into that self-centered black hole. I do believe that "... for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." The note in my ESV Study Bible for this verse puts it this way: "God weaves everything together for good for his children. The 'good' in this context does not refer to earthly comfort but conformity to Christ, closer fellowship with God, bearing good fruit for the kingdom, and final glorification."

I trust God with my life; He gave me life; I have surrendered it to Him, so it's really His anyway, to be used for His glory. I might not understand why things have turned out the way they have, and I might not know that this side of heaven, but I trust Him. I just have to be reminded of that on the days that I start feeling sorry for myself.

So if anyone is reading this and is struggling with unmet expectations, hang in there. Take heart and trust in Jesus. Things on this earth are so temporary anyway, but the eternal things will last. Trust me- I do not say these things flippantly, and it has taken me a while to get to this point. But only having that relationship with a living, loving Savior is what gives me hope. Hope for eternity with Christ, and hope while I am here on this earth.

This is my prayer for my life and for others who might be struggling in the same way:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus... for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:4-7, 11b.

So all of you Mothers out there- I do celebrate you and celebrate with you. Life is a miracle and a gift from God. I thank you for choosing life for your children! May God bless you and your families, and help you in raising your precious children.

Here are just a few of the Mothers that I celebrate this Mothers Day: