A Mom's Promises on Mother's Day

Today a mamma woke up without her baby girl

She was wearing smiley face socks and driving too fast

Now she’s gone

The world doesn’t make sense a lot of the time

My darling children, I would make sense of it all for you if I could

If only I could

This year we’ve lived together, at times, hasn’t made much sense

Here’s what I know

I love being you mom

Good times, Hard times, Sad times, and Everything in-between times

Growth happens when we push through hard times

Growing doesn’t always feel good

God is good even when life isn’t

Problems don’t get better when ignored

Facing problems requires humility

Humble people make the best humans

Secrets are dangerous

Unless the secret is a present, presents are the opposite of dangerous

However if the present is a crocodile that IS dangerous, don’t give a crocodile as a gift

Give thoughtful presents over costly ones - always

Words, Time, Presence

The ability to love isn’t based on the actions of another, but on your willingness to give and forgive even when love isn’t deserved

That’s how God loves us

With a bigger love than we deserve even when we don’t love Him back

I hope you always choose to love Him

Seatbelts save lives,

Wear your seat belt, Wear socks that make you happy (even if they don’t match)

Follow the speed limit signs

Sometimes we get lost

We get lost inside ourselves, lost in circumstance, lost in lies

Let truth guide you and pull you out of yourself, your circumstance and confusion

Being lost will give way to being found

Worry is normal

You may worry about grades, about what to wear, about what others think, about tomorrow, about a great many things that are out of your control

Don’t let worry drive you

God’s knows and He’s got it all under control

Find perspective, pray, be thankful and choose peace

A kind word and a smile goes a long way

Smile often, make eye contact, be honest and speak kindly

Listen more than you speak

Doubt happens

We doubt ourselves, and our God

Don’t let your doubt determine who you are or who you believe God to be

Ask questions but don’t wallow in the place of questioning, God never changes

Different is God’s design for the world

You are the only you, created with talents, and skills unlike any other

These are for you to use, not to squander in selfishness or bury in fear

Use them for the glory of the One who made you, for the relief and refreshment of a world in need, and for the betterment of others

Be the different you were created to be

Life happens in seasons

Seasons of doubt, of joy, of heartache, of trial, of loss, of security, of ease, of regret, of forgiveness and of renewal

Embrace them all, for they will all shape you into you

You are stronger than you think

Be resilient, be affected but don’t allow the weight of trial to break you

And when you’re not strong enough let God be your strength

He will

So on this mother’s day

I promise to never stop growing

And to trust God’s goodness when life isn’t good.

I promise to name and face problems

And grow in humility.

I promise to give you words, time, and presence

But, never a crocodile.

I promise to love you no matter what

And to love God too.

I promise to buy you whatever socks make you happy, always wear my seatbelt,

And to drive the speed limit.

I promise to look for you, to love you (lost or found)

And to always tell you the truth.

I promise to worry as little as humanly possible about you

And to trust that God is in control.

I promise to smile, to look into your eyes, to speak words of kindness

And to listen more than I lecture.

I promise to share my doubt

But not let it determine who I know God to be.

I promise to embrace my different for God’s glory

And to encourage you to do the same.

I promise to hold every season with a sense of awe

And to let you grow into who you’re meant to be.

I promise to be strong: strong for you, for me, for the unknown

And rely on God’s strength.

So, though I can not change the world to make it make sense for you

May I always point you to the One who will get you through.

You are amazing, you are strong, you are beautiful and I am so grateful to get to be your Mom.