Encouragement We Need This Mother’s Day Week…
Friends! Blessings to you this Mother’s Day Week! Whether you’re a Mom, or an Aunt, or a Grandmother, or a Mother-like-neighbor, I pray we’ll all be encouraged this week not only for ourselves, but so we may in turn encourage the precious Moms who are in our lives.
Many of us know Mothering is no piece of cake. It’s the most rewarding experience we can have, and yet it’s one of the most difficult jobs we’ll ever hold. (As in it never ends. Case in point: My sweet Mother-in-love, who’s a mere eighty-six years old, is found often worrying about one of her sixty-something daughters who’s battling Parkinson’s.)
I nearly fell out of my chair this morning (for many reasons you’ll soon see) as I was reading a devotional by my good buddy, Debora Coty. I’ve written about this book before, Too Blessed to Be Stressed—Inspiration for Every Day—365 Devotions for Women, but this particular entry is well worth sharing. First, here’s the book:
Second, let’s have some fun and encouragement together thanks to Debora’s entry on May 8th, Surviving the Hood. (“Hood”, of course, referring to Motherhood. LOL.)
Debora believes our reward awaiting us in Heaven will be “something akin to a twenty-four-year deluxe spa treatment with a Godiva smorgasbord.” I knew as soon as I read that I was all in on this day’s devotion.
Debora dubs her friends who are moms “mom-sisters.” Let’s just see how some of their quotes affect you:
“Giving birth to a child is the beginning of a long good-bye.” (Debora’s friend, Sarah) This is killer. Don’t even broach this subject with me as our family has just been blessed with our first grandchild…
“If you wouldn’t want someone calling you poopy-face, don’t call anyone else poopy-face.” (Deborah’s friend Debbie explaining Matthew 7:12, a/k/a The Golden Rule, to her twins.) This is grand “toddler speak.”
“I’m a parenting survivor!” (Deborah’s friend Carol at her son’s high school graduation.) This is brilliant and empowering given the popularity of Survivor on TV. Yes! Let’s say that together, “I am a survivor!”…
Take a moment to pour over these little numbers. I still can’t believe this:
“Think you’re busy? According to Guinness World Records, the greatest number of children born to one mother is sixty-nine children (an 18th century Russian peasant)…
She had twenty-seven pregnancies:
16 sets of twins,
7 sets of triplets, and
4 sets of quads.
I’m betting her tombstone said, ‘Rest in Peace. Finally.’” I know. Mercy sakes’ alive…
And, I love this…Here’s what happens when your kids finally get a glimpse of what you’ve been thru’:
“When my friend Eddie asked her son, married one year, when he planned to have kids, he answered, ‘I’m not ready to share my fries like you always did, Mom.’” I confess I didn’t always want to share my fries or cookies or…
Finally Debora leaves us a jewel of a Scripture to encourage us to “continue to diligently pray for our children and grandchildren”:
If you’d like to learn more about Debora’s devotional, here’s the link to my recent review. All of Debora’s books are wonderful with her hysterical humor and heartfelt devotion to our Lord, whom she calls “Papa God.” Checkout her website: www.deboracoty.com
Happy Mother’s Day! And many thanks to my dear Floridian friend and mentor, Debora Coty, who continues to bless me every day.
Next week you’re in for another treat with some astonishing stories proving God pursues us even as young children…
‘Til next time!
P.S. It’s our distinct, overwhelming pleasure to announce the birth of our first grandchild, Claire Elizabeth Hoagland. Born May 9th at 9:17 a.m. Mamma Diana, Papa John Jr. and Baby Claire are well. Huge answer to prayer! We praise you, Lord. Claire weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and is 20 inches long. Here we go on our new adventure!!! Needless to say we’re ALL smitten. =)
Here is the girls’ side of the table at Our Last Supper before Baby Claire’s arrival. Left to right: Yours truly, LT, Lauren, and Diana (9+ mos. pregnant!) This was at one of our favorite hangouts, Noosh Nosh.
Here are the new proud parents, Diana and John Jr with Baby Claire.
Have you ever seen any bigger ear-to-ear grins on new grandparents? We hope to be called Lolly and Poppy, but I’m told whatever the grand darlin’s call us is what we’re called. So be it for the little angel.
Here, unbelievably, are our three grown sons with Claire. Left to right, Proud new father John Jr., Uncle Woody in the center with Claire, and Uncle Gordy (maybe Uncle “G”) on the right.
Amen and Amen.