What Else My Mom Taught Me

I couldn't let my mom's birthday go by

without writing something

in her honor.

 

 

As I have been thinking much about her lately

there are a couple of recurring things that come to mind.

 

One is that my mom was an extremely forgiving person.

She literally lived out,

"Forgive them seventy times seven,"

several times over.

 

She forgave many people of many things;

rudeness, meanness, pettiness, hurtfulness,

stupidity, cruelty, abuse, slander,

judgementalism...

the list goes on.

 

And she never seemed to hold a grudge.

 

Perhaps it was because in the back of her mind

she was well aware of the many things of which

God had forgiven her.

 

If she were here right now,

she would argue that she wasn't

as forigiving as I am making her out to be.

She would say that she didn't always "feel" forgiving.

But I know what I saw,

and what I saw, repeatedly, was

 a woman who forgave.

 

Another thing about her that keeps coming to my thoughts

is how generous she was.

 

My goodness that woman was a giver!

 

I don't think anything brought her more joy than

giving to others.

Gifts on birthdays, holidays, and just because days;

a loan because you needed it

and then "forgiving" the loan

 (you didn't have to pay it back);

donations for the needy, food for the poor;

compassion for those without compassion...

 

She gave whatever was needed whether she knew you or not.

 

And never was her generosity driven by selfishness.

She didn't give because she ever

expected anything in return.

She gave, simply, because she was

generous!

And always, in her heart,
was the desire to give more.

 

It's amazing that when I think about these things,

I see how easily she lived out these qualities

 which are the very nature

of God.

 

Her example of

unconditional Love

overwhelms me.

 

And even though my mom and I

were different in many ways,

I am thankful

that we are also alike

in so many ways.

 

 

She was, truly,

 an exceptional woman.

 

Happy Birthday mom!

I love you forever.

 



The Poor Dilemma

It is interesting that Jesus said

to take care of the poor,

to offer a drink to those who are thirsty,

to feed those who are hungry,

and to give your coat to someone who is cold

(your shirt too if needed).

 

 

Yet, these days,

when people are presented with the needs of others,

they pause,

as if they've been presented with some great dilemma

and respond with words like,

"Let me pray about it and ask God if I am supposed to help".

 

But it seems pretty simple;

if we have been made aware of a need,

then we're supposed to help.
Period.



Down to Basics

If we got down to the basics,

which Jesus said are

loving God and

loving others,

we would

~ Change the World.

 

 

Loving God, truly,

(with all of our soul, mind and strength)

brings about a NATURAL compulsion toward

grace, love, empathy and compassion;

which is loving others

(truly, as God does).

 

It becomes as natural as breathing.

 

If we lived out the Basics,

the world, 

 - humanity -

would be united

and, thus,

be known for its

Love.



Wasted Compassion

Compassion without action

is meaningless waste of emotion.

 

God has implanted within us

the feeling of compassion

so we would be moved into action.

 

If someone is sad, I give them a smile;

if lonely, a hug, text message, phone call, card or visit;

if cold, a coat;

if hungry, a meal;

if broke, a dollar (or more);

if hopeless, Hope...

 

 

If a feeling of compassion fills my heart

and I do nothing to act upon it,

that compassion is

 meaningless waste of emotion.

Waiting for Ice Cream

One day a small child said to his mother,

 “Mommy, I want some ice cream.”

“Alright, darling,” she replied.

Seeing that his mother was making no move toward getting his ice cream,

 he asked sweetly,

 “Mommy, may I please have some ice cream?”

“Yes, darling,” the mother smiled.

Seeing, still, that his mother made no move to attend to his ice cream,

 the child glared,

 “Mommy, when are you going to get me my ice cream?”

Turning to him, his mother replied,

 “There is no ice cream right now, darling.”

Angrily, the child whined,

“Then why did you say that I could have some?”

“Because, love, when there is some ice cream,

you shall have some.”

 

After lunch the following day the child asked,

“Mommy, may I please have some ice cream?”

“Yes my love,” the mother replied.

“Today?” the child asked.

“No,” the mother replied, “there is no ice cream today.”

Disappointed, the child asked,

 “Mommy, can we go and get some ice cream?”

“Not today,” the mother replied.

“When? When can we get some ice cream?” the child moaned.

“Soon, my love,” the mother crooned.

Resigned, the child sighed.

 

The child awoke the next day,

 sure that it must be the day for ice cream.

“Mommy!” he gushed,

 “Today must be the day we go and get ice cream!”

“No darling, not yet,” she soothed.

“But Mommy, why?!

Why can’t we get ice cream today?

I don’t understand!

 You’re just mean!”

“Patience, my darling.” 

Frustrated and angry, the child stormed off.

 He didn’t understand why his mother said that he could have ice cream

if she had no intention of giving him any. 

Why was she being so cruel?

 Didn’t she love him? 

One day after the child awoke from his afternoon nap

 his mother loaded him into the car and drove

to the fanciest ice cream parlor he had ever seen. 

Inside, in the middle of the room,

was a table decorated with confetti, streamers and balloons.

Above it hung a banner that said, “Happy Ice Cream Day!”

On the table was a dish

filled with his favorite flavor of ice cream,

 topped with all of his favorite toppings. 

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He turned to his mother,

 “Oh thank you Mommy!

Thank you!

You’re the best!”

********

Now, it would have been much easier

for both the mother and her child if she had,

on the first day he had asked, 

 simply gone to the store and bought some ice cream.

However, knowing the heart of her child,

 long before he had even asked for ice cream,

 the mother had planned this day.

Though buying ice cream right away

 would have been simpler and instantly gratifying to her child,

the mother knew that doing so

would leave no lasting impression on her son.

But the memory of the surprise trip

 to the ice cream shop would remain with him forever.

 

******** 

The Lord gave me this analogy nearly two years ago,

in the midst of my own waiting.

My Ice Cream Day has yet to come,

 but when it does,

oh what a day it will be!!!

 

Control

There is always one thing

that we have control over

and

the complete ability to change

~ourself.

 

 

If every person

would look inward

and

change one negative aspect

of their person

into something positive,

we would inadvertently change

the world.



Food for Thought

 

Wouldn't it be nice if

preachers who have now

gone on to heaven

would come back

and share with us

all the things they were

wrong about?