What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Motherhood: A "Labor of Love" Rerun from 5/9/10

This is a rerun from Mother's Day 2010, still appropriate today...read on:




"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.'"  Proverbs 31:28-29

I imagine this is the key verse for today's celebrations...Mother's Day...an opportunity for children, both young and old, to show their appreciation for their Mothers in some way.  A phone call, a card, some flowers, taking her out to eat, serving her breakfast in bed, planting a new rosebush or other flowering plant in her yard, building her a birdhouse, going on a picnic that she doesn't have to prepare...these are all typical ways of showing our love and appreciation for our Mothers on one day of the year.  Some of my most favorite Mother's Day gifts were the home-made cards and gifts made by my children with their own little hands.  No matter what the gift, just the fact that you made the effort to show your love in some outward way means so much to the recipient of this gesture of love. 

This morning in my devotional reading the theme was about peace...based on John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you...Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

We mothers often have a difficult time finding peace...and keeping our hearts from being troubled or afraid.  How often during the years of raising our children can we remember having a sleepless night because we were concerned for the safety or well-being of one of our children? Perhaps we were hurting due to the loss of companionship with a child, whether because of him or her being away from home attending college, or off to battle in the armed forces, or other circumstances beyond our control...possibly a child was lost...lost in soul, a prodigal wandering far from the security and safety of home.  Whatever the reason for the separation, a mother's heart yearns for that comfort of knowing her child is safe and happy, no matter how old the child may be.

Someone shared this idea of a way to deal with this kind of worry, anxiety, or fear, and I like this concept...ask yourself, "Could this be labor?"  Instead of fighting against the fear, sorrow, or pain...give in to "the labor pains" and let them take you to the time of giving birth.  Working with the labor pains instead of fighting them brings you to that place of giving birth to new life...new hope, trust, and a sense of peace. Surrendering your anxiety to God allows Him the opportunity to give you rest.  For those of us who have experienced the pain of labor, we can remember the joy and peace and complete rest that followed the birth of our child...That is the same rest that God wants to give us today.

If today has not been a day of total joy for you as a mother because you are wrestling with the pain and anxiety of overwhelming concern for or loss of fellowship with your child, why not give this idea a try...surrender your control over these "labor pains" and let God take charge and bring you to a new birth of peace. This is a new concept for me as well...and I am working on it too.

May God's peace be your peace today. Amen.
This Rose of Sharon bush is blooming today for Mother's Day.
This bush was planted in memory of our son Matthew in the Memorial Garden at our home.
These blossoms are the first of the season, and I consider it
a heavenly bouquet, sent from heaven from our son just for Mother's Day.
What a heavenly gift!

11 comments:

  1. Elegantly beautiful Pam! Happy Mother's Day!

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  2. Thank you, Rhonda. I hope your day has been pleasant and peaceful!

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  3. Hi Pam! I like that term 'labor pains'. My son is away from the church, and I am sad about it. Maybe those feelings and prayers will result in his new birth! I never thought about it that way. Thank you :)

    I pray you had a good Mothers Day yesterday. Hope you and yours are doing well.
    Hugs,
    Ceil

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  4. Hi Pam, thank you sharing these reflections again. I'm not a mom in physical sense, however, as my pastor reminded me today, I'm a spiritual mom (praying for his now adult sons) and praying for the children of my friends. And perhaps, I could also say my blog is another way for me to be a spiritual mom?

    Happy Mother's Day, Pam!

    Blessings!

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  5. Pam: It is wonderful you have a fellowship time with these ladies. I enjoyed the song the lady sang. I have a friend who attends an area wide group of women from different denominations and she enjoys it immensely.

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  6. Pam: It is wonderful you have a fellowship time with these ladies. I enjoyed the song the lady sang. I have a friend who attends an area wide group of women from different denominations and she enjoys it immensely.

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  7. I love the analogy of labor pains you gave us here, Pamela. I'm going through a lot with my grown son, who is living with us due to some bad choices he has made recently. He has no desire, it seems, to even try to reconnect with the Lord, and that has made me so sad. But I will continue to pray for him, and let the healing come from God. Only He can work to change my son's heart.
    Blessings!

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    1. Oh, my dear Martha...I totally understand this, having two adult sons living at home under different circumstances in life...and they each have had their battles to fight and things to overcome. But God is able! All we can do is pray and let God work things out in His time and His way. He will not give up on your son. Just let God work it out. And you pray. I will pray with you and for your son as well. God is able.

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  8. Our concern for our children gives us a glimpse of the Lord's concern for us. Of course He doesn't worry as He knows the end from the beginning.
    As long as all things are in His hands we are safe but it can be hard.
    I truly enjoyed this post. Thank you so much.
    Life is hard for young people today but prayer is powerful.

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    1. Oh that is so true, Annie. Yes, we are safe in God's loving hands...but life is/can be still difficult. I don't know how people make it without knowing the Lord. Thank you for your words of encouragement here today.

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  9. Pam, Thanks for sharing this again. Mothers are special ladies indeed. There are so many women out there who are spiritual moms to many, yet haven't given birth to or adopted children.

    Blessings!

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