Flowers for Mama - Updated 5/13/2018

Updated on Mother's Day, May 13, 2018. This is a repeat of a post I wrote originally in 2010, and then updated in 2011, right after my father had also joined her in heaven.  In honor and loving memory of my Mother and all mothers past and present, Have a Blessed and Happy Mother's Day.  I repost this every year now on this day...missing my Mama still...guess I always will.  She was pretty wonderful.

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 KJV

(Updated 5/7/11)  Song of Solomon 2:11-13 “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell…”

Many years ago we answered the call of God to go and prepare for the ministry.  My husband chose a seminary in north central Ohio, which was an exciting new adventure for our whole family!  First snow for our kids...first driving in snow and ice for us...lots of fun adjusting to our new surroundings after living most of our lives in Florida. But that's another whole story I'll save for another day.

We had survived our first winter in Ohio living in a very large, old house out in a small community in the heart of farmland. Finally spring arrived in all its grandeur and beauty. I was so thrilled to discover that our yard was blossoming out in every direction! Since we had moved into this house in the early fall we were not prepared for all of the lovely flowers that would appear in the spring. There were tulips and daffodils springing up in flowerbeds all around the house. Then there appeared the blossoms of flowers I had never seen before, gorgeous large white and pink and rosy red peonies! Oh, what a delightful surprise they were! Their fragrance was exquisite.  Then the fruit trees started to blossom…we had apples, pears, plums, and cherries! It was a veritable "Garden of Eden". 

Me with my sweet little boys circa 1980:
Matthew in the space helmet, Benton, and Scotty
in front of the lilac bush
Mother's Day, Nova, OH

Next the lilacs started blooming…talk about fragrance! I was especially excited to see these delicate flowers appear because lilacs were my mother’s favorite flower, and since moving to Florida after being born and raised in the north, she was sad to discover that she was unable to grow them in the south. Every spring she would talk about the lilacs and long to see and smell them again. In honor of her, I joyously placed vases full of the beautiful flowers everywhere in the house and filled our home with their sweet perfume.

Since my Mother and Dad’s anniversary was in the middle of May, I thought I would surprise them with a “fresh bouquet” from our garden. I gathered up bunches of lilacs, tulips, and apple blossoms, and carefully packed them and mailed them to Florida by priority mail. I wish I could have been there to see my mother’s face when she opened that box and saw those lilacs! She said although they were a bit wilted, she could still smell their heavenly fragrance emanating from the package. Even though they were falling off of the stems, she saved the blossoms and enjoyed them for days to come. I believe that was the best present I ever sent her.

Lilacs, tulips and apple blossoms from our yard, May 1980

Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I think of this today, as my dear mother has been gone to heaven for five years, exactly today. (written on 5/7/2011) My sweet Daddy has just joined her in heaven, about two weeks ago. (April 19, 2011)  Since Mother passed away in the month of May, we requested that the florist find fresh lilacs to make a special bouquet for her funeral. They were able to do so, and I know it brought a smile to my mother’s face in heaven to know that we had done that for her. I can even imagine that the fragrance of those beloved flowers reached all the way to heaven’s gates.

I love you Mom...and we still miss you every day!  So happy for you that Daddy is there with you to help you celebrate this Mother's Day.  Love and kisses to you both...Your baby daughter, Pam

“Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:28

Remembering Mama ~ or "A Kiss from Heaven" Updated from 2013

5/10/2014   5/7/2015: 5/7/2017  5/7/2018

NOTE: I originally wrote this on May 7, 2013.  I can honestly say I still feel this every time I put on that sweater.  No wonder I find myself wearing it often.  Read on....


May 7, 2013:
Do you ever long to just be close again to someone you loved so much...? I know I do.  My Mama left this world for a far better place seven years ago today. (2018 = 12 years ago today!) I still have to pinch myself when I realize that it has been that long already...and yet she still seems so near.  Only those who have experienced this understand what I mean.

Dorothea  May Tedlie Mursch
January 6, 1917-May 7, 2006
This picture taken in 1987 at age 70

 As you can see by the picture above and these others, my Mama was a beautiful woman...even at such a great age as 87, as seen in this picture below, which was taken on her 87th birthday.  That's me on the left, and my sister Doris on the right. You can tell we are all related by the cheekbones, right? Yeah, that's the Tedlie claim to fame...we get our cheekbones from our Mama, and her Mama, Flora Sheets Tedlie.

She was  beautiful too.  But this is about my Mama.  

Mama and her girls on her 87th birthday

Mama and her girls on Mother's Day 2003

My Mama loved so many pretty things...like the beautiful dolls she collected, the African Violets she somehow managed to keep growing when mine just all withered away. She loved lilacs, but sadly couldn't grow them in Florida, and oh, how she missed them!
(See "Flowers for Mama", originally written in 2010, and updated each year)

Me, Remembering Mama tonight  (2013) (notice the sweater)

Recently one cool spring morning  I was looking for something to put on my arms to take off the chill as I drove to work...and something that I could wear in my office when the air conditioning gets a bit too cold in my part of the building...and others are too warm in their section.  As I skimmed through the clothes hanging in my closet, I discovered something I had almost forgotten that I had...my Mama's sweater.  You know how "older ladies" always keep a sweater handy just in case they get chilled? (yeah...I'm learning about that...)...well, we used to tease my mother that she wouldn't go anywhere without her sweater, even in the heat of summer.  She always kept one in the car in case it got too chilly in a store or restaurant or church. Even though I still frequently tend to have those horrid "hot flashes", I can just as quickly have a "cold flash"...so I need something that is easy to put on and take off in a hurry...(you ladies know what I mean, don't you?)...alas...a sweater!

Anyway, on this particular morning I grabbed that sweater off the hanger and quickly put it on as I was running late to get to work. (What else is new?)  As I settled into the driver's seat in the car, adjusting the defroster, the radio, and my seat, I suddenly had this wonderful feeling of warmth...a soft comforting warmth enveloped my body...and my heart. My Mama's sweater wrapped around me and caressed me with her love. I felt it. It was almost as if Mama was right there in my sweater with me, holding me close, cradling me in her arms so tenderly once again. I felt it. I knew it. I was overwhelmed with the sense of her presence. It was a tender, loving, embrace straight from heaven. Yeah, I know it was just her sweater...but it was more than that. It was a tangible part of my memories of her...and it gave me tremendous comfort. I found myself wanting to talk with her again and just tell her how much I loved her...and I thanked her for touching me with her "presence" once again.  I also thanked the Lord for allowing me that little "kiss" from heaven. He knew that I needed it in more ways than one at that particular moment.  Essentially, it was a gift from God, sent especially to me...a reminder of His divine Presence in my life.

I hope you won't misunderstand these thoughts and think I'm some kind of kook.  I really don't care if you do think that. (probably won't be the first time...or the last!)   This is what happened, and it brought such peace and joy to my heart. God knows what we need and He can choose to bless us any way He wants. 

Perhaps you have had such "kisses from heaven" as well. My thought is that when something like this happens...

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!"  Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

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!

The Journey of Two Mothers

Today two mothers met who have never met in person before, and one of them was me. The other mother was someone who had a lot in common with me.  We have both lost an adult child to cancer. Not a club or sorority that very many mothers are rushing to join. But sadly, there are already way too many members.

Our meeting was a "God-Thing".  She is originally from Maine, and even though I have lived in Maine and my son who passed away was also from Maine, that is not how we met...or maybe in an indirect way it is. Several years ago I was looking at some information about a town in Maine on the internet and somehow clicked on a link that led to my friend's blog that she and her daughter were writing together. Here is a link to that blog:
http://ourjourneytogether-susan.blogspot.com/

Once I started to read I soon realized that we had a lot in common...my friend's daughter was about the same age as my son.  She had a very rare form of cancer, and so did my son, although they were different types of cancer...they were none the less deadly.  They were both married and each had one child.

My new friend and I are also Pastor's wives...and both of our husbands are retired. We both have three children, all born in the same years.  Oh, and she and I are very close in age.

Throughout the years that she and her daughter were writing their prayer requests, sharing the journey of struggling through the realities of living with cancer, I was also doing the same with my blog as I dealt with the reality of my son's journey with cancer. And we began to encourage one another through comments, prayers and even on facebook.  When my friend's daughter died two years ago this past November, I grieved with her. My heart was broken for her and her daughter's family.  I had prayed and hoped that somehow she would be healed, but that wasn't God's plan.
During the intervening time, my own son was continuing to fight his own battle, and I know my friend also prayed for him to be healed just as I did, but sadly, that wasn't God's plan. When my friend saw that my son had died six months ago, she messaged me that we needed to get together.  I replied that I hoped that day would come soon.

Oh, the other thing I forgot to tell you is that my friend has a home in Florida, which is also where I live.  And last week she contacted me and invited me to meet her in a community not too far away from where I live, as she would be passing through. I was delighted to accept that invitation. And so that brings us up to today.

What do two mothers who have so much in common do when they finally meet in person for the first time?  They hug. They smile. They talk. They pray. They almost cry...the tears were very close to the surface. They share their current concerns for their loved ones who have been left behind...our grandchildren, the widowed spouses of our children, our other immediate family members, husbands, other children who are also grieving the loss of their sibling. They share their stories of how they are dealing with the grief, and how they continue work through the sorrows on holidays and other events.
They encourage one another and hope that this new friendship will continue into the future. They take selfies:

My new friend and I.  Yes, I was having a bad hair day.
But everything else was wonderful. :)

They promise to stay in touch and continue to pray for one another.

That's the story of two mothers who have so much in common...and even though we don't like the reason we were brought together, we thank the Lord that He saw fit to allow our paths to cross.  We have both grown in our journey...grown in faith, grown in the ability to show empathy and compassion for others in similar circumstances. We've grown stronger.  Who knows how God will use this experience in the future? Maybe He has plans that we don't know about yet. But even if we never have the opportunity to meet again here on earth, we know that we will continue to carry that little place in our hearts for each other...because we both know that this was one of those God-appointed times....a "God-Thing."  And we WILL meet again, someday...where we will both enjoy a wonderful family reunion with our precious children who have gone on before us.  I have a feeling our "kids" were smiling down on us today.

I know there are many other mothers out there who have suffered such a great loss. Some of us have already connected on facebook and through blogging.  I encourage you today to continue to reach out to others.  Some of you have been an encouragement to me during the years that my son was fighting his battle with cancer...even though your child had already lost the fight...you went out of your way to share knowledge with me about the disease we were fighting and about ways to turn a negative thing into a way to help others.  I thank you for that. Your courage and strength was an inspiration to me. I hope that I can also be a help to others along the way. That is my prayer. May my son's journey not be in vain.

Touching Base

I have this "tea-towel" with its inscription framed and hanging on the wall in my dining room. The inscription speaks for itself.  This was a unique gift from my mother to me for Christmas in 1996, ten years before she passed from this earth to her heavenly home.  She knew that I loved and appreciated "old things", especially when they had some significance in relation to someone I knew and loved.  She also knew that I collected and treasured old teacups and teapots along with most anything to do with "teatime".  With her admonition to "display it to good advantage with your tea things or antiques"...I immediately had it framed and hung it proudly in my "tearoom" dining room.  If I recall correctly, on this particular Christmas we were living in a lovely antique home in Fryeburg, Maine.  Antique in that it was built in 1848, so it definitely qualified. This home was rich in history and local fame.  I wish I could say that it belonged to our family tree, but alas! We were merely fortunate enough to lease it for a year while in between ministries and journeys.  But I digress...that is not what this is about.

I guess I was feeling a bit nostalgic tonight and wanted to touch base with my mother again. You know how children do that? Oftentimes when they are out playing in the yard, sometimes they will just run back in  the house to "touch base" with Mom.  Perhaps needing a little word of comfort for a "boo-boo", or to gift her with a handful of dandelions or other lovely weeds, or to ask for a drink of water or a snack.  Maybe they just feel the need for a hug or some reassurance that everything is okay...and then they are off and running again until the next moment they feel like Mama is a little too far away and they need to touch base once again.

That's how I was feeling. I wanted to run into my Mama's arms and give her a hug and feel her arms around me again.  I wanted to hear her voice calling my name...telling me it's time to come in and get cleaned up for supper.  If I ignored her the first or second time she called, I could always expect her to call me by all three names, "Pamela Anne Mursch, get in this house right now!" Then I knew I'd better get going or I'd find myself in trouble for certain!

I find myself also longing to hear my Father's voice...yes, of course my earthly father, whom I miss greatly since he left this world for heaven too...but in this case, it is my heavenly Father's voice that I am longing to hear.  I find that I often need to "touch base" with Him as well...to run back inside His arms and feel His loving embrace and hear His words of comfort and reassurance that everything is going to be okay.  I sometimes literally run into His presence and want to show Him my "boo-boos", and ask Him to make them go away. Sometimes He does just that...He binds up my wounds and takes away my scars so that I don't have to be ashamed of them anymore.

Then again, there are times that He says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  and He gives me the strength I need to carry on and keep going in spite of my "boo-boos".

I am looking forward to the day when I will hear Jesus call my name...when He will say to me,

"Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world..." (Matthew 25:34)

I hope I won't make Him have to call me more than once.  I have a feeling I'll be ready to obey His voice immediately.  Why? Because I know where He's calling me to go.  Listen to what He told His disciples before He left them for heaven:

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father's house are many mansions; 

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; 

that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know, and the way you know."

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, 

and how can we know the way?"

Jesus said to him,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through Me."

John 14:1-6

So, how about you? Have you "touched base" with your "Father" lately? Your Heavenly Father, that is? Are you ready to go when He calls your name?  I hope you won't make Him call you more than once...

Better get ready...it's almost "supper time"...

Here's an old song that I'm sure many of you will remember... talk about being nostalgic...sorry...but it's a good one...

Johnny Cash singing "Come Home, It's Supper Time"

The Hats of My Life ~ A Random Journal Day Experience

Today is "Random Journal Day" for those of us who like to peruse our old journals and files and bring something out from the past to share with you.  Today I have found something that I not only wrote, but presented to a women's group at one of our churches about twenty one years ago.  So if things seems a little out of date, that's because it was written for ladies who still had not crossed over into the 21st Century! Wow! Can I even be this old today???  Anyway, I hope that you will enjoy this little "presentation" from the annals of time.  And then go over to "Enthusiastically Dawn" Random Journal Day to see what others are writing these days!

THE HATS OF MY LIFE

June 7, 1993

      Today I am wearing my favorite hat! 

Me, in my "favorite hat",
dressed as an "Old Fashioned
Girl", right after finding this
hat on the shopping trip with my
mother, 1989.

You may think it a bit unusual or even funny looking.  And you're probably right!  But I like this hat.  It makes me feel like a grand lady from a "kinder, gentler" time...this hat was purchased in a quaint, dusty, cluttered, unique antique's store in Ohio. I happened to be browsing through this "museum" to the days gone by with my parents, who were visiting me from Florida.  One of our favorite things to do when we get together is go jaunting around the countryside in search of out of the way country curiosity shops, or antique stores, or anything that looks interesting and unusual.  We rarely spend much money...just browse and dream of those good old days when people actually knew what all those things were and what to do with them!  I dug up this particular hat out of an old dusty treasure chest full of miscellaneous accessories like silk scarves, faded gloves, and other interesting hats.  I tried it on just for the fun of it...and my mother said it was just perfect for me...so I bought it.  I believe it cost me a whole $2.00!  Not a bad bargain, wouldn't you agree?

I'd like to talk to you today about the "HATS OF MY LIFE"!  No, I really don't have a closet full of these funny looking hats...but there have been many hats in my life that are important to me.

CIRCLET OF FLOWERS:

When I was a child, my sister and I used to weave hats of circlets of flowers for our hair.  You know, things like dandelions, apple blossoms, forsythia, and other spring blossoms. Of course, they didn't last long with all of the handling of their tender blooms, and they were soon discarded on the scrap heap of our childish playthings. But you know, "when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a woman, I put away childish things." (I Cor. 13:11). (or did I?)

GRADUATION CAP: 

The day finally came when I was pronounced to be competent to finish my schooling...I was presented with a diploma, and my tassle was turned to the other side to signify to the world that I was ready to join the ranks of the educated people of the world...full of wisdom and ready to set out and conquer. God's Word says in James 3:13-18 that she who is "wise and understanding among us should show it by good conduct......and where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." 

By God's standards, I still had a long way to go! 

BRIDAL VEIL:  Soon the day came along that I was able to put on this bridal veil! What a glorious day that was in my life...and with the wearing of this hat came many other hats! I began first of all to learn what it means in God's Word when it says in I Corinthians 11:3:

            "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."... also in verses 7-12: "woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man, nor was man created for the woman, but the woman for the man...for this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.  Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as the woman was from the man, even so the man also is through the woman; but all things are from God."  

And in Ephesians 5:22-33 it teaches us that we are to:
"submit to our own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the Body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything......etc.

That passage ends up by saying in verse 33: "let the wife see that she respects her husband."

      Now, that was (and is!) a hard lesson to learn!  Amen??  Especially in this day and age when the "world" tells us that we ought to get out there and fight like a man for our rights and all the "privileges" that go along with that!!  That's why today so many women are wearing so many different hats...HARD HATS, POLICE HATS, SOLDIER HATS,  ETC.  Not that I think it is wrong for women to work outside of the home...but I believe we need to examine our motives when we do go to work.  We all have to work at some time or another...and there are many noble professions for women today.  We do have some rights and privileges that our grandmother's couldn't have that are beneficial.  But at the same time, we need to remember where our true calling is in life and keep that as a priority.  The order of progression ideally should be in this way:

   1.   I am a child of God first, and my relationship with God should be my top priority in life.

         2.  I am a wife and a helpmate to my husband next, and that relationship needs to remain in that position always.

         3.  I am a mother of my children next...and all the needs of the world should not keep me from meeting my priorities in childrearing and nurturing.

        4. Then I am a woman of the church next...in my case, the pastor's wife...and according to whom you are talking to, the job description can be as long as anyone's imagination will allow.  This is where careful prioritizing of time and energies must be carried out.  Too many pastor's wives are suffering from "burn-out" and stress today.  They must keep their own channel to God uncluttered so that they can be available to meet the needs of their husbands when they get overloaded.

      Now all of the above mentioned positions involve wearing many other hats. As a wife, we many times wear the hat of secretary, maid, cook, co-pilot, bookkeeper, office manager, encourager, exhorter, of course lover, and confidant.  I'm sure some of you could add to this list.

      Then as a mother, the list of new hats grows even longer:  nurse, teacher, protector, advocate, den-mother, room-mother, seamstress, room designer, taxi cab driver, secretary, maid, cook, disciplinarian, encourager, counselor....

      As a woman of the church, we add many more hats to the list...musician, singer, teacher, flower arranger, pray-er, leader, discipler, exhorter, evangelist, puppeteer, writer, deaconess, hostess, cook, dishwasher, social worker.

TITUS WOMAN (Old black hat)  

      When I went to one of our former churches as the Pastor's wife, I was asked if I would like to become the "Titus Woman" for our MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) program. Then when I came to our current church, I was asked to lead our "Woman to Woman" program, based on this same "Titus  Woman." Before I could commit myself to being this "Titus Woman", I had to find out just what a "Titus Woman" was supposed to be.  So I looked, where else? In the book of Titus and there I found her in Chapter 2, verses 3-5.  This is what it says:  "The OLDER WOMEN likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

      OLDER WOMAN???, ME????   Well, I guess just because I no longer have any "preschoolers", I am now considered an "older woman".  I mean, just because I've been married almost 24 years, (at the time of this writing) have three sons aged 21&1/2, 20, and 16,  and one of which is getting married two months from today - (praise the Lord to a wonderful Christian girl whom I am very pleased and proud to call my daughter-in-love (law) - does that qualify me as an "older woman?"  Just because I happened to turn 4-0 not too many years

Me, at the time of this writing in 1993
(trying NOT to look like an "Older Woman")

ago...Gee whiz, do they have to rub it in?  But I had to come to terms with the fact that, yes, I am getting older (and hopefully better), and that our younger women do need "role models" for their lives.  I'm not too sure I'd want any young woman to model her life after mine, but there is always that risk when you become a leader in any circle.  Our young women today are hungry for guidance, for encouragement, and for someone to be a "mother figure" to them.  Many of us have moved away from our own natural mothers in the search for happiness and fulfillment in careers, or have followed our husbands in their search far away from home. Our communities have become so diverse in multi-cultural backgrounds  that it is sometimes difficult to get too close to anyone.  In many churches today, our "older women" are working, helping to put the kids through college, etc. and there just aren't too many motherly types available to lead the way. 

      Stepping into those "mature years" can be the opportunity for many to serve the Lord in several different ways that weren't possible while they were raising their own children.  To be a "grandmother" to some family who is displaced from their own family can be very rewarding for both the giver and the recipient. Or to be a "mother" to a young bride or career girl away from home and family who just needs someone to talk to can bring such blessings to both.

     But for many of us caught in the daily grind of living in this almost 21st century, the list of hats we wear could be exhausting.  As women today who all wear too many hats, we need a shield and defender, and a covering that shelters us from many storms of life.  Jesus wishes to provide that covering for us. 

In Isaiah 61:10, the prophet Isaiah says" "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." 

       Psalm 91 tells us:  "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."  Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge."  His truth shall be your shield and buckler.  You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday...A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.  Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 

      Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your habitation, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.  They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.    You shall tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 

      Because he has set his love upon ME, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name.  He shall call upon ME, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With LONG LIFE I WILL SATISFY HIM, AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION."

CROWN: 

      I Corinthians 9:24-25 says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." 

      II Timothy 4:8 says: "Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 

      James 1:12 says:  "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

      Yes, we will wear many different kinds of hats, or coverings in our lifetime. And perhaps in the life to come as well, but the most important covering is the covering of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ.  When He gave His life freely on the cross, the Blood He shed was meant as a 'covering' for our sins.

On the day that Jesus died, He, too, had to wear a kind of hat:

a CROWN OF THORNS,

that was placed upon His head by Pilate's soldiers. The soldiers mocked Him, beat Him, and spat upon Him...they said, "Hail! King of the Jews!"Then they led Him to a cross and nailed Him there, and left Him there to die.  And Jesus Did die on that cross,  and He was buried in the tomb, but we can praise God today that  He didn't stay in that tomb.  In three days He came forth from the grave ALIVE!  He then ascended to His Father in Heaven after 40 days of further ministry to His disciples...and He said to them and to us:

      "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."  John 14:1-4 

      In verse 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"   in verse 6 Jesus replied:

      "I am the Way, the Truth, and The Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

      Revelation 4:1,8-11:  After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.  And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.:"

8. And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.  And they do not rest day or night saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"....10: the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11. 'You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

      Because of that Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore, we will find ourselves unworthy to wear the crowns that He gives to us. We will one day stand before our glorious King, the Spotless Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, and we too, will cast our crowns at His feet and bow down and worship.

      I hope that everyone here will be among that thankful multitude in heaven someday. 

Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that "God has highly exalted Him and has given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

      Romans 14:10 says that "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ...and verse 12 says "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God".  

       Hebrews 5:12-13 says "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is NO Creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

      But I don't want to leave you there trembling in your boots!  Hebrews goes on to say that Jesus is our "great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, so let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

      Jesus is our advocate before the Father. He pleads our case.  He has paid the price for our sins already.  All we have to do is repent of those sins, accept His forgiveness, and believe that He will cover us with His blood.  He remembers our sins no more.  They are washed whiter than snow. 

      Do you know this Jesus?  Wouldn't you love to know that your sins are covered? This covering or hat that He offers is free....all you have to do is receive it.  Won't you do that today?

I Smell Bread Baking...

Yesterday I told you about our "spare refrigerator" dying on us...(Click to read "Great Is Thy Thankfulness")...among other things going wrong and going good.  Today when I got home from work I had to finish cleaning out that fridge before we totally shut it down. It was still barely cool, but not cool enough to keep it going.  We ate lots of extra vegetables with our supper trying to clean out the crisper before they started to wilt.

Old Gold Medal Flour Cookbook, circa 1917 (click on pictures to enlarge and read)
(Click here for a close up of this recipe with other information about this cookbook)

One of the things I had stored in the freezer was my bags of bread flour.  Now, mind you, I am not one of those suzy homemaker types who bakes her own bread and makes cakes from scratch (well, maybe sometimes, but not very often).  I mean, I still work full time...and I have to choose my fun homey things carefully.

Anyway, you know the old saying, "If the world hands you lemons, make lemonade?"...Well, if the bread flour needs to come out of the freezer because the freezer is dying...bake bread.  So that is why I smell bread baking...and I LOVE the smell of bread baking.

Don't get too excited over this... I cheated a little... I have a bread machine...and it does all the hard work...but I still get to smell the bread baking.  That's almost as good as the eating part....you know?  Eating hot homemade bread fresh out of the pan as soon as it is cool enough to cut?  With real butter and jelly?  drooling...i can't wait for the bread to get baked...how much longer...?  Hopefully soon enough for me to have a snack before I go to bed...if not, I will wait for it before I go to bed...it's that good.

Hey...I may have some competition...my #1 son just said to me, "That bread sure smells good, Mom! I can't wait to have a hot piece of bread with some butter and jam".... My #3 son just said the same thing..."that bread sure smells good, Mom!"...
Hubby hasn't chimed in yet...he's not a real homemade bread connoisseur....doesn't know what he's missing. He prefers store bought bread. Something wrong with that...

I wish it would hurry up and cool! 

Well, now that we are all drooling, I'd better go check the bread...I think it's just about ready!  I'll let you know how it turned out. Later.

If it tastes as good as it smells...we'll all be happy!

I'll have to report back tomorrow.
Right now I'm going to go eat some bread.

g'nite!

"She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants." Proverbs 31:15

"She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  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.'  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."  Proverbs 31:27-31

Yes, It IS GOOD!!!!! YUMMMY!!!

(Excerpts from the "Portrait of the Virtuous Wife" found in Proverbs Chapter 31---a role model for all women still today.)

The Day After Mother's Day

"Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."  Ruth 1:16

Portions of this verse were actually sung at my wedding almost 42 years ago...and even though the song was intended as a message from the bride to the groom, the original scripture verse was actually spoken by a daughter in law (Ruth) to her mother in law (Naomi) after the death of Ruth's husband and Naomi's son.

This particular mother's day was very difficult for me, even though the day itself was pleasantly spent.  You see, on this Mother's Day, as I remembered my own dear mother who had gone on to be with the Lord exactly five years ago, I also was saddened by the departure of my mother-in-law from my home, who went to stay with her other son and family after being with us for the past six months. 

You may wonder why I was saddened...most people rejoice when their mother-in-law leaves town...and I must admit, in many ways it was actually a relief to me.  But on the other hand, it was a very difficult experience.  You see, my mother in law is showing all of the signs of increased dementia, and her departure from my home was extremely turbulent as she was overcome with anger mingled with fear and distrust of me and all others who had participated in her care in the recent past.  I must also admit that my own reaction to her anger towards me was not exactly sweet and controlled.  I responded like most anyone would respond when false accusations and allegations are hurled at them with such vehemence...and I know I must apologize to not only my mother in law, but to my Lord and Savior.  I regret that I was not able to "turn the other cheek" and speak softly and humbly in the face of such uncontrolled wrath.  Even though my response may have been justified at the time, it was still wrong and disrespectful of a dear woman that I have loved for all these years, and who, in her better days, also loved me as a daughter...not just a daughter in law.

This is the painful side of the effects of aging, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.  The dear ones we have loved and cherished and enjoyed for many years suddenly become strangers to us...and this goes both ways...the one suffering from dementia views her loved ones as strangers and enemies, and her children and family also view her as a person they no longer recognize and understand.  She is not the same person we've always known and loved, and it becomes increasingly difficult for us to know how to deal with her unpredictable changes in behavior and mood each day.  It also becomes a concern for not only her safety, but our own safety and security in the home.  Oftentimes these behaviors can become so violent that one may actually fear for his life.

And so, difficult decisions have to be made...how to best care for one in such a condition as this.  In our case, we had done everything we were "permitted" to do for her physical and medical care.  When it became apparent that she was no longer going to accept our care and continue to trust us to help her, we had to make a decision to "pass the torch" onto the next in line...and let them try to move her on to the next level of care that is required to keep her protected, healthy and well treated.  Even though it may appear that we are happy to be relieved of our "duty", we are not celebrating.  We are grieving the loss of this dear one and the sweet kind of fellowship with her that we had previously enjoyed. 

Two weeks ago my own father passed away, and I am still grieving that great loss.  But sometimes I think there are some losses that are worse than death.  We never lost a feeling of love and trust with my Dad.  He was pretty much aware of us and enjoyed his family until the very end, as much as possible.  With my mother in law, I fear that we will not be able to enjoy that kind of fellowship ever again, even though she may live for many years to come.  And that is what grieves us today.

Lord, I confess to You today my inability to cope with the hurt that I experienced this past weekend in the relationship with my mother in law.  I pray that somehow she will understand that I truly do love her, and that someday we will be able to once again embrace and experience that love and trust.  Until then, please keep her safe from harm, and protect the dear ones who have taken on this awesome responsibility. May they have Your strength and patience and wisdom in becoming the new torch bearers. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the Great Physician and Burden Bearer.  Amen.