Wednesdays with Wanda

Sunday will be my first Mother’s Day without my mom.

It’s a weird feeling.

To be honest, I am not sure what to feel.  I have so much gratitude for the amazing Mom that God gave me.  Yet my heart cannot help but be filled with sadness, pain, and even anger as this special day approaches.

Just five minutes ago, I stood in the card aisle at the Dollar General store and found myself staring at the huge section of Mother’s Day cards.

I fought back tears as I realized that I wouldn’t be able to buy one for my mom this year.  How did this happen?

But I also know that I am not the only one who has lost their mother this past year.  Others have lost their moms too.  And their grandmothers, their wives, and even their children.  And Mother’s Day is just as painful for them as well.

So this year, I bought more Mother’s Day cards than I ever have.  Two for my sweet Mother-in-law (one from the grandkids), two for my friends who just recently lost their Moms, one for a friend who has lost her daughter, and one for my husband’s grandmother.

I will not take this special day for granted, but I will treasure it all the more.

Today, I wanted to share with you a gift I gave to my Mom on Mother’s Day, 1996. (I was 26 years old.)

But first I have to tell you about something my mom used to tell me as a child.

Mom would always tell me to “store up my treasures in Heaven.”  It’s based on the bible verse found in Matthew 6:19-21.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

She would tell me that when I did something for Jesus here on earth, I was earning heavenly treasures that I would receive one day.  Sometimes those acts of love may go unnoticed by people on this earth, but God sees everything we do for Him. 

Mom said she likes to picture us wearing heavenly crowns filled with beautiful jewels.  Each jewel would represent an act of kindness that we did for Jesus here on earth.

I have told my boys the same thing, and it is fun to watch them try to “earn” jewels in their crown.  They’ll say, “Mom, that lady dropped her glasses and I picked them up for her.”  And I’ll say,  “That’s a treasure!”  And we smile.  They will even tell  me when I have done something to earn a jewel in my crown too.  Precious!

I am thankful for this “heavenly perspective” that Mom has given me and my whole family.

(I want to make sure that I add that Mom never taught me that I had to  “earn” God’s love or forgiveness…that is FREE!  And I cannot “earn” my way to Heaven either.  The things I do for Jesus on this earth is because of my love for Him and His love for me.)

Fourteen years ago, I gave Mom this two-sided frame for Mother’s Day.  One side contains pictures of us, and the other side is a poem I wrote to her.

It means so much to me, though I wish it was still hers.

I wanted to share with you the poem I wrote to her…

What a priceless thought to know that my Mom has received her crown, and I know it is absolutely beautiful, just like her life.

And to all the moms out there who sacrifice so much each day..

The late night feedings.

The miles in the car.

The loads of laundry.

The piles of dishes.

The hugs.

The tears.

The prayers.

Know that God sees each act of love you are doing in His name.  And each one matters.

Whenever I was discouraged about not being a good mom, my Mom would tell me that she believed that God had a “soft spot” in his heart for mothers.  He knows how difficult it can be, and He understands what we are going through.

So do not give up.  Keep living for Jesus and continue to teach your kids to do the same.  For God’s word says…

“Her children rise up and bless her;
         Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
         But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Proverbs 31: 28-30

Happy Mother’s Day!

Traci

(My sister is having a wonderful giveaway in honor of our Mom and Mother’s Day.  Here is the link…CyndiSpivey.com)