My Beautiful Mother

Ode to my beautiful mommy, who passed away on August 24th, 2015. 

My mother was a beautiful woman
Inside and out

Her inner beauty spoke of strength
Strength to persevere in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Her Inner beauty radiated hope
Hope for better things to come
Built on an abiding faith in God
She knew full well
That God will keep in perfect peace
She whose mind is stayed on Jesus
Because she trusts in her God
Mommy knew that deep within her soul.

Her inner beauty could penetrate any situation with a sense of peace.

Mommy's inner beauty bred generosity
She gave even to those who really didn't deserve it.

Mommy and I, January 2014

My mommy was a beautiful woman
Inside and out.

She loved her pleated skirts and tailored blazers
Blue was her favorite color
But more than her excellent sense of style
And flawless skin 
Mommy's inner beauty is praiseworthy
Because she was a prayerful woman.

Every day
Many times a day
She prayed for her family
For many years
I kept her busy on her knees
Her overly educated ambitious un-marriageable daughter...
When that prayer was answered,
She spent another five years
Praying that I would get to experience motherhood

The longer the journey to motherhood took
The more she encouraged me to trust in the Lord
Because all good things,
Babies included,
come from God
She would remind me
"Look how far the Lord has brought us"

Mommy's prayer was answered
And mommy's joy was truly complete
Though she never got to hug and hold her little grand daughter

Sweet mommy
You left us a legacy
Of faith
The sweet fragrance of a life well lived
As your soul rejoices
At your saviors presence
We your children
Carry on,
May be be generous
Peace loving
Prayerful
As God gives us strength

We are honored to have been mothered by you
We are blessed to have been mentored by the best model of parenthood

Rest in the arms of Jesus
Our beautiful sweet mommy
With love from us
Your children...

For Mothers in Waiting

This post has been stewing in my heart for several hours, as I see all the Facebook messages celebrating mothers, and recognize that I am not alone - I am not alone in this space of waiting. Even as we celebrate those who have mothered us - biological mothers, adoptive or foster mothers, othermothers, auntie-mamas - I am praying for you. I feel you, my sisters, known and unknown, as you wait for the gift of motherhood, hold on to hope. I am speaking to God the Mother (Isaiah 49:15; Psalms 131:2) on our behalf.

You know whom am thinking of
You see her right now
Celebrating her own mother
Yet yearning to be one herself
Dear God calm and quiet her soul
Like a weaned child with its mother
Comfort her
as a mother comforts her child

You know whom am praying for
You know her better than she knows herself
Because you knit her together in her mothers womb
Yet she waits to feel one growing in her own
Won't you come to her aid Mother God
Whether she is missing being a mother
Due to barrenness or miscarried babies
Or she is still waiting for a husband
With whom to make those babies
Won't you please hear her prayer

Sister in the struggle
Keep on hoping
Yet
While you occupy that space
Give yourself away 
Love the motherless and the unmothered
Hug a child who needs to be comforted
Provide from the bounty of your blessings
Nurture and nourish the needy child near you

Sister in the struggle
Maybe a child from your own womb is not in your future
But that does not mean you cannot be a mother
So let not your heart be troubled
Give
Love
Hug
Provide
Nurture
Because motherhood is more than biology
Let your hands hold the one that God brings your way
Let your heart love the ones that comes into your life
Let your hurt be healed as you heal
The child, young or older
Whom God brings along your path

So happy hopeful mothers day
From one waiting mother to another.