Remembering Mom

 

Remembering Mom today.

I will not forget you.

The gentle way you had of living out a

life of ABIDE.

How you nourished that center of living

 in your own family in

quiet and understated ways.

A gentle touch or a word of encouragement

were passed as daily touches of hope and love.

Too often they perhaps failed to infiltrate

 the stress of daily living.

 Now, even just seeing a glimpse of your handwriting

 brings back a caress of words.

 I pray that somehow, someway, I too

may be able to pass along these treasured

touchpoints to my own dear girls.

Even a nod of the head encompasses all of the

 "said and unsaid gifts" of a life well-lived together.

Mothering with Grace

Young mommas work hard these days.

Moms of littles work very hard.

(Dads work very hard too)

But, on this Mother's day weekend,

 I will talk a bit about the job of mothering.

When I try to remember the days of littles,

 I am pretty sure I block many things out.

Interrupted sleep slips away.

Endless crying jags are silent.

Whining and pouting aren't easily recalled.

 

What rises to the surface are hugs, laughter,

 playing games, brushing hair,

meals around the table, family vacations,

worship services and learning about transitions together.

We moved through every stage together

 and they were grace-filled days. 

Oh, so many mistakes were made,

 as we made decisions the best we could 

with the information we had at the time.

That is my prayer for you dear little mommas.

Grace-filled mothering.

Dear daughters-

may you cover all of your days with-

 grace for yourselves, 

grace for your littles, 

and grace for the dads 

you parent with in your home.

Oh, how thankful I am-

 that we live in a "grace state" because of Jesus.

Jesus is the gift-giver and because of HIM,

we move and live and have our being,

and "mother in grace."

To My Quarantined Young Mommas

You are moving through these days

 bravely right now.

Encircled by the little ones 

that keep you on the go...

even when you don't quite know

 the direction these days.

One day floats into another 

and only the dimming of the light 

gives a nod- another one down.

These little ones will listen to the stories someday-

of "remember when". 

Like your grandmothers 

told of the Great Depression and 

 World War 2.

You will have "ration" tales 

and empty-stocked shelves at the store.

You have taken to the "Great Outdoors" 

for a bit of respite and a sense 

that all is right with the world.

You have gathered them close and

hugged them tightly.

You have lined them up for family photos 

to mark the time for the generations to come.

You have done the silly faces to get the smiles-

 like all the generations before.

You have hugged them tightly

 even as you allow them 

to spread their wings to discover.

You have hid from them your own fears

 and doubts for this "new world" 

we live in and wondering what the future bodes.

You have allowed them to LIVE LARGE

 in tighter spaces-

expanded their worlds as the parameters closed in.

You have reassured YOUR OWN MOMMA 

that you are strong, true and trusting.

You have burned a light brightly of HOPE that 

reassures beyond human measure.

You have pointed to Scripture truths

 that have walked through the centuries

 to bring consolation-
because you live beyond these tedious days.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again 

to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, 

kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded 

through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Dear Daughters of MINE- this prayer for you.

May you see past the piles and the whines

to speak truth to the hearts 

of these littles ones in your care.

May they be blessed by your courageous

 moving into these days with

power beyond your understanding. 

May they know that your steadfast love for them

 is just a little picture of their Father's great love and

the sacrifice of His Own Son for each and everyone.

Be Hope Bringers. Be Joy Spreaders.
 Be Grace Givers.
Be strong in your bravery 

and humbled by His strength. Amen.

I hope you know how very proud

 I am of each of you-

Jessica, Laura and Sara-

 in this Mother's Day story time of today.

love, mom

Mothering Grace

                                                                                                               (non-relative- but now "family")
I have collected old photos 

of women for a long time.

Discarded, dusty and forlorn 

stashed in boxes in antique stores.

I am always intrigued by the story possibilities 

and wondering about the stories lost over time.

The mothers and the daughters-

love shared and lives entwined.
The stories....

The gift of days spent mothering 

in the face of challenges. 

 Filtering through the heartaches

 with outstretched hands

 to the days of more golden rays.

Loving the littles gathered

 as weeks bring them closer to bigs.

The exploration of a a world yet without words

 but only a point of the finger.

Moving to unceasing conversations 

and questions.

Oh, mothering is so full of grace.

Apologies for harsh words

 and lost tempers.

For moments when a bit of respite

 seems almost selfish.

When one more "tuck-in"

sends you near the edge.

These little copycats

are watching so closely.

 As we laugh and pray

 and sing together.

For all the joy that rocks this generation, 

 and explores the readiness of the next,

there is awe and wonder.

May the Lord grant you

grace beyond measure little mommas,

in days of ease and days of stress.

My blessing is watching the unfolding of 

a story that is part mine and part yours.

For the Lord is good and faithful.

And as the story is lived in your little families,

 may you remember:

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

 forgiving one another,

 as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Love, 

mom

And today we remember all 

those who have lost mommas,

wanted to be mommas,

 lost little ones, or live with 

significant challenges

for mothering.

May His abundant grace abound in your lives. 

When Life Looks Better Waterlogued

 One of my very favorite APPS 

on my phone is the Waterlogue photo app.

It takes my photos and changes them

 into a watercolor print.

 Where the lines are blurred and highlights 

appear that you miss in a regular photo.

 I thought about that in conversations 

with busy momma daughters this week.

 About feeling just overwhelmed on some days

 and the jobs are never-ending.

  Every thing you do has so many details

 and you wonder if you will ever come up

 for air in your life again.

And sometimes the weight of family life

 really does seem like it is resting 

on your shoulders to pull off 

in some sort of Hercules fashion.

It is really in THESE VERY BUSY,

 HURRIED, MESSY days

 that it is the greatest blessing

 to step back and count gifts.

To fill out that one gift for each day,

and drop the prayer heart things 

on the prayers by the month page.

For in that very releasing of the noticing breath,

the lines are blurred a bit around the edges, 

and the LIGHT shines through.

And in the years ahead, when you look back

 and try to remember this mommy life stage-

well, you really won't.

But, what gift-

 if the treasure stored up- 

are the reminders of His faithfulness.

Right in the daily 2 year old tantrums,

 smudged faces, and laundry piles.

Yes, maybe as life gets held and 

even if the edges are a bit blurry,

it looks a bit more like living grace everyday.

Thanks to Patricia Maier 
for her beautiful garden
 that was the Waterlogue gift.

Mothering Daughter Mothers

 Mother's Day 2017-

 and still celebrating three daughters.

They are 30, 31, and 32.

They have blessed us

 with a growing bunch of boys.

The three youngest- all born in 2016.

A large part of the fun

 is sharing this journey with John.

Papa now is becoming Horde Manager.

Jessica and Jack.

Learning new tricks 

each and every day.

Laura with Griffin and Gordon.

Learning to share and be flexible.

Sara with Levi.

Learning to grab moments

 to capture small treasures.

 What could I have done 

differently to parent them well?

It's a long list.

Much went undone.

And still does.

But, in the cards received

 this year is an interesting word-

"sacrificial".

You just don't get this growing up- 

until you are a mother yourself.

You think you do-

but then you find out you were wrong.

Your rearranged life-

of giving up.

Your time, your space,

your first choices, 

your priorities.

Now, just a muddled, 

jumbled mess sometimes.

But, sacrificial giving--

 has rounded corners now,

and sighs and a sweet hug, 

and a cuddle.

And headed toward balls 

and trucks and trains.

So now-

in another phase of life-

mothering daughters who mother.

What a sweet gift and joy.

And I pray:

Heavenly Father,

 I give thanks that on this day,

 you have blessed our daughters 

with children of their own, 

for that is truly an amazing gift.

You have given them the ability to love well, 

love often, and love unconditionally. 

Jesus, thank you for modeling this for all of us.

 Cover all our parenting cues

 and miscues in grace.

Help us to put the best construction 

on everything.

Help us to give the give to our children

 of loving our spouses well.

Let us not take these good gifts for granted.

Help us to count them, each and every day.

One by one.

Two by two.

Three by three.

In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

And just because you three girls are 

JUST AMAZING.

Go ahead and sing the song...

You know how it goes....

 Love, mom

Special thanks to Megan Schmitz
 for such beautiful photos.
Megan Schmitz Photo