When my beloved mother transitioned over to be with The Lord, Mother’s Day was lost to me. The joy of having my mother in my daily life had ended. Though a mother myself, it was less meaningful and the joy was diminished in my life.
Now mind you, I rejoiced that I was so highly blessed and favored to have had (and shared with so many) a Proverbs 31 mother. A God-fearing, God-loving, Bible-rearing gentle soul who gave me unconditional love, was nonjudgmental, generous, patient, kind, loving and welcoming to all. She imparted so many things unto me, strength, courage, love, empathy, compassion, forgiveness and a passion for God. She was my first Bible teacher, and, as I grew up, my best friend!
When she left this earth, some of her remained in my soul, and some of me went with her! As such, the day carried a little less significance for me. Though my son loves and acknowledges me on that day, there is something about the loss of your own mother that affects your soul in a special way.
Today, a Vietnam War Veteran, who is blind, diabetic and who had overcome homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, the death of his teenage daughter to a rare brain cancer, along with his own prostate cancer wrote to me to praise me for being an outstanding mother. I was in total shock. He and I became acquainted as I was helping him through my job with a CNN interview. He, his wife and son were so kind and thoughtful having experienced so much as a family. I was so encouraged by his life story and his faith walk with God, recognizing how very much he had overcome in his life. He is now a world class, blind power lifter, the best in his class worldwide at that. His family’s thoughtfulness towards me was quite humbling. I never imagined he would include me on his list of mothers to acknowledge.
But today, he took the time out to write to, and encourage me, while wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day!
It was like manna from Heaven. I knew God and my own mother had worked through him to remind me that no matter what I am dealing with in my life, … loss, hurt, illness, abandonment, pain…to keep smiling even when my troubles fall like rain. He further wrote to tell me that the love of a righteous and spiritual mother is the closest thing on earth to God’s Love that any child, man, or woman will ever experience.
Today was the day that a blind man taught me how to “see” the joy, once more, in Mother’s Day and I thank God for using him to open my eyes.
Love your mothers while you have them and encourage those whose mothers have crossed over! Know too that God and our mothers in Heaven are still watching over and loving us. Reflect on your late mothers today and feel that joy once more. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Isaiah 66:13: “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.”
MrsRitaOluwole 