a mother's wishes

Every year we ask my Mom what she wants for her birthday, and every year she always responds with- "Oh, I don't care, what do y'all want to do?"

And each year we have to question further, to find any answer at all. I guess mothers never get to think about what they want to do. This time, after reflection, she brought up that she would enjoy a picnic and afternoon walk with her family.

Of course! why hadn't I thought of that before!!!! :)

Yummy food and family. It was perfect!

So that morning, I pulled out a few random jars and bottles from our collection, the burlap, and a couple of candles. Hunting around the yard, I found much to my dismay, that our flowers were running thin, but I did find a few buds still lingering from summer. 

A few turns around the kitchen counter, a few dishes washed, and it was all complete. 

And here's the delicious, happy results... VOILA!!!!

We all have our dreams, our wishes, things that makes us smile, and things that give us joy. For a mother it's to be surrounded by her family. Her dream is to look each one of her children in the eye and smile in confidence that God has made Himself ruler and King over each heart. Her wish is to know that all is well in her home, physically, and spiritually. She finds no greater joy than to know that her children are

  walking in the truth. (3John 1:4)

My mother sacrifices so much, lives so selflessly. She makes motherhood glisten and sparkle. Delighting in submission, she is perfectly content to be about enriching her home. 

 I so admire her passion for continuing to learn more about God. She's not satisfied with what she knows, she desires to see the passion deepen. Besides, I don't know many women who could keep up with my "world changing" father!!! She makes him a success, working behind the scenes, unnoticed yet extremely powerful. 

Oh and maybe you didn't know this (or maybe you did), but I'm an extremely high maintenance, difficult, complex, inconvenient daughter. My mom has committed the vast majority of her time these past two years to helping me get well. Studying, taking me from doctor to doctor, joining me on my crazy diets, taking the time to try and get creative with my food options, doing her best to make the weird food taste good, driving me up four hours every week (lately) to Nashville for IVs and staying over a couple nights so I can do them in repetition. Then, she graciously responds time and time again to friends questioning her about the decisions we're making for my treatments- "Do you feel like she has gotten any better? Have you considered finding a new doctor?". I've never once seen her complain... no she finds it her greatest joy to sacrifice herself for her family. She hasn't just been here for me, helping me through it physically, she's walked along right beside me emotionally and spiritually as we've learned to trust the Lord with the results regardless of what the outcome seems. 

Maybe you can't see it, but I can. 

The reflection faint, but growing clearer-

Christ. 

His humility. His compassion. His pouring out of himself. 

Oh God, make my heart soft and tender like my Mother's. Calm and quiet under raging storms. Humble and submitted towards the paths you set before her. Her life, so steadfast and selfless.

If I could only have half the self-denying heart my Mother has!!!

 Father, make me this!