A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Thankful Thursday - Thanks, Momma

Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage is hosting Thankful Thursday this week. It's about Mom's.

She writes, "My mother is the foundation of my faith. She never stopped praying for me or believing in me even in my prodigal years. I am certain she wanted to kick my, ahem, bootie back then but she prayed instead."

She took the words right out of my mouth! I could have written it myself. Oh, Lynn, are you sure we don't have the same Mom?!?

It describes Momma to a tee.

Because of Momma....

• I never remember not knowing Jesus.
• I never felt like an inconvenience.
• I never went without.
• I truly understand what sacrifices she made.
• I learned what a servant's heart looks like.
• I learned what honoring your parents meant by watching her.
• I know I am well loved.
• I have seen "Jesus" with skin on.

The Greek word for thanks is eucharisteō. It means:

1) to be grateful, feel thankful

2) give thanks

Thank you, Momma, for loving me so much, for the sacrifices you made to provide for me and for instilling within me a love for God and for family and reading. You are one of my personal heroes and I love you with all of my heart. And thank You, God, for giving a Mother like this to me.

I do thank God for Momma and am so blessed to have her in my life. I pray for her every time I come before God and I remember her love and good deeds.

The Greek word for remember is mneia, which means:

1) remembrance, memory, mention

It comes from the root words mnaomai, which means:

1) to remind
a) to be recalled or to return to one's mind, to remind one's self of, to remember
b) to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance
c) to remember a thing
d) be mindful of

and mimnēskomai, which means:

1) to remind
a) to be recalled or to return to one's mind, to remind one's self of, to remember
b) to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance
c) to remember a thing
d) be mindful of

I thank Him for providing me with a legacy of faith through her and the generations before her that handed them down to her. I ask Him to help me hand that legacy down to those He has give me to bonus-mom and grandmother and mentor and love.

Let's all remember our Mother's today and be thankful for what they have given us. Let us take the lessons learned and pass them down to the next generation.

If you're like me and don't have biological or adopted children, perhaps even bonus children in your life, look around you at those younger than you that are watching. Be that shining example to them and teach them what is good.

Do you have a mother you can rise up and bless? I realize that not everyone is as lucky as I am. If you were abused or neglected or abandoned, thank the one who took her place in your life. If you don't have the fond memories that I do, search your heart and try to find one thing, just one good thing, to remember and thank God for the one who carried you in her womb.

A note to non-moms: Contact me at magnoliaheartbeats@gmail.com if you feel alone this Mother's Day. I've been there, my friend. You would be surprised at how the sting of hearing Happy Mother's Day used to wound me. I have found healing and have discovered that God has not left me forsaken.

"He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD." ~ Psalm 113:9 (NIV)

Even if I never had Kristyn as a bonus daughter, I would still be surrounded by children to mentor and teach. From nieces to nephews and friends' children, my heart is full of children to love.

My fulfillment comes from Christ, not from being a bonus Mom. Please don't let that offend you. I'm just saying that sometimes we look to people to meet needs in our lives that only Christ can and should meet. We expect too much from others sometimes. The Lord longs for us to depend on Him as the Source and identity of who we are. While we are certainly to love our Mother's, our children, our grandchildren, etc., we are called to this first:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." ~ Mark 12:30 (NIV)

Questions for Reflection: What's your fondest memory of the one in your life you can call Mom? Why not let her know today, or if she's no longer with you, share it with God in prayer.

Verse of the Day: "I thank my God every time I remember you." ~ Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

Prayer: Father, thank You for Momma. She is full of wisdom and kindness and has strength beyond measure. I pray that I take the lessons learned from being blessed to be her daughter and pass them on to others. Help me be just like Momma, having all of her characteristics, Lord. Help us to honor our Mother's by thanking You upon every remembrance of them. Give us strength and wisdom as we mother others that You have so graciously given us. Help us to realize that we are blessed with so many to love in our lives and have a high calling to teach them Your ways, Lord. Please be with those who are hurting this Mother's Day. Heal their hurts and help them find fulfillment and peace in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What are you thankful for this week? Visit Lynn for more Thankful Thursday posts and be sure to link up and share your own.