Below is a posting I wrote on 12/5/09 that never got moved over to my Blogger account. It was just a few months before that I had come back to Christ. It is too precious a post for me not to make it part of this blog.
12/5/2009 4:29:23 PM
I thought I might share a reflection moment of my Thanksgiving Holiday with you.
In talking with my Mom while I was home over the holiday, we spoke about different things that are currently happening in my walk with the Lord such as my prayer list, having a daily quiet time, and talking to my friends about God's love, I realized that my Mom has been the biggest and strongest influence on my Spiritual life since I was very young. Mind you, I am not necessarily talking about talking to me directly about things of the Bible and Christ, though she did do that sometimes, but I mean being an example- a role model of what a Christian woman is. Now, if you asked her, I am sure she would begin to tell you all of her faults and the mistakes that she has made in her life, but reflecting on my life growing up in our home, I remember all of the things she did for others, and for our family.
Everyone loved my Mom. She was funny, talented, smart, and loved with her whole heart. She loved to laugh even if we were in the middle of a discount store, she and I would find something to get tickled about and sometimes it would be very hard to stop laughing. She has played the piano for her church for over 50 years. Not only does she play piano, but sings, and her gift of both were definitely from God. We never missed church: Sunday school started at 8:45, then Church service, then Sunday night service, then Wednesday night service. She was faithful not only to go, but faithful to others who needed her help.
Every 3rd Sunday, we would hold service at the local Rest home in town, and she would play piano for the service there. A lot of times she would sing solos or duets for these who could not get out and attend church. I remember going with her several times and we would go around to the rooms and get some of the people that otherwise could not make it to the dining hall where we held the service. My mom would call out as we were going down the hallway, “time for church service. Come join us". You should have seen the look on those elderly people's faces... they were so glad to have someone come and visit them and invite them... they loved my mom and they loved seeing me- "so good to see a young person spending their time with us old folks" they would say...looking back on that, I know I was embarrassed at the time, and many times, I really didn't want to be there. I would have rather been outside playing or doing anything but having to be cooped up there, but I did connect with the elderly.
Now looking back, I realize the lives that my Mother touched in those places would not have been the same had someone not cared for them the way she and our church did. The joy she brought to them by just showing up once a month... they always looked for her. She was so obedient and humble to give of her time, and how important that is in God's eyes.
The memories of her love for God, her love for the body of Christ, her love for fellowship with others, her love for ministering to those who could not get to the House of God due to being shut-in, and her love for music that glorified God, floods my heart now.
There were very few Wednesday night services that I remember that Mom wouldn't put SOMEONE on the prayer list when it was asked of the congregation who they had on their heart that needed prayer. Mom was always praying for someone. Always telling someone either on the phone or in person- "please keep ___ in your prayers this week". A recent book I just read called "Standing in the Gap" is on Intercessory prayer. One of the chapters mentions that we should pray "unceasingly" day and night... In looking back, I believe that my Mom was doing that, maybe without even realizing it or knowing how much it pleased God, because to me she did it so naturally.
I actually did not plan for this posting to be so long, but as I began to write it, I felt a rush of visions in my head of all of these things and events and times. These of course are only a few of the many things I witnessed of my Mom in her walk with God, but they have since impressed upon my life and made me so very grateful and thankful to God that she was who she was, and is, in Him. No words can express my gratitude to my Mom for the upbringing she gave me. The opportunities to know God and His Son through her own Salvation and our church. The loving support she gave me, and still gives me in life in general. God has truly blessed me with a Mother that Fears the Lord and taught her family that the Word of God is UNFAILING.
I have attached a picture of a book I asked my Mom for while I was there. It is a Bible Dictionary that she used the entire time I was growing up. I would see her use it to look up things when she was reading her bible at home, or when she was studying for a Bible study lesson. When she handed it to me, the cover was tattered and torn, the pages were turned yellow, and in opening the cover I saw the Copyright was 1967. She told me she had gotten it from Billy Graham's ministry. I was so glad to get this reminder of her and her diligence to study God's word. It will be a reminder for me that the Word of God must be “studied” to know God and His will for our lives. I have it in plain view of where I have my quiet time each day, so I can remember that my Mom set the example for showing me to be obedient to whatever opportunities He gives me to serve others as Jesus served, and as I remember her serving.
Lastly, I want to say that my recent rededication to Christ is not only due to one of my longtime friend's, and all of her Prayer Warriors, praying for me the last several months, but also due to my Mom having me on the prayer list at church for all these years.
How do I know I was on the list?
No, no one ever said that I was, and of course she would never tell me, but I know now that I was, and probably still am....and I thank her for it.
Mom, if you get to read this, I want to thank you for "unceasingly" praying for me to find my way back to Him.
.... and all I want to say to you is
you can take me off the list now...
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