A Mother's Love

forgive me... I don't know why this looks as it does and I don't know how to correct it. sorry.

It's Mother's Day 2013. Being a mother of four beautiful children, this is a day to celebrate and be celebrated. I am, and I will. But this day wouldn't be complete without focusing on the love that I know from my own mother. Not only does mom come to mind because of the obvious... Mother's Day... but because the verse that I've been studying for this next post makes me think of her.

"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 106:1

You may recall studying this verse with me back in December. In my post from Dec. 7, 2012 called Reassurance, we were looking at 1 Chronicles 16:34. I mentioned in that post that mom insisted on us using this portion of scripture as part of our dinner prayer. If you'd like, please go back and read about my dear mom in that old post. In Chronicles these same words appear in a psalm of King David. This time they were most likely penned by a Levite in Jerusalem sometime after the return of some of the exiles.

I have a major correction to make. Now, remember that I am not a Bible scholar by any means... just a mom that loves Jesus and God's Word. In my past post (12-7-12) I stated how many times I found this portion of text in the Bible, "his love endures forever." I said 4 times. Way off. Way, way off. This time, in studying His Word I found it 45 times! Twenty-six of those times were in the 136th Psalm alone!! That just goes to show you how much more I have to learn. I'm so glad that God is a God of grace.

In honor of my mom, I would like to share some of the things that I wrote about her in her Caring Bridge Journal last year.

Mother's Day

Written May 11, 2012 9:41pm by Merrie Tschida

Mom's continuing on her amazing recovery mode. She has been enjoying comfortable days and nights. She's been able to get outside and feel the sun on her skin and breathe the fresh air! God is amazing, isn't He?! And still so very mysterious. We're not questioning His greatness or His plan. We are simply thankful and filled with joy that His plan is allowing us to spend this Mother's Day with mom here in our presence and witnessing her feeling and looking as good as she does. Praise You, Jesus!

Of course I think Mother's Day is great... I was blessed enough (or silly enough - depends on who you ask and on what day) to bear four that call me "mom". It is my full time job. I take my work very seriously. I've even learned, with God's grace, to enjoy... no, LOVE my position. But the best part of it all... I have an amazing lady that I call mom who taught me how to do this thing called motherhood. And crazy as it sounds, I think she's taught me the most in these last 8+ months on how to be a great mom. I only pray that I can do as good a job in the end that she's done and continues to do while she has life and breath to share with me.

I'll close with a prayer from a book that mom gave to me years ago.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the many things on my plate right now. I am able to help people. I work to create a good home. I serve You and Your church with my gifts. You are so faithful, Lord. You have affirmed me and my current direction by blessing me with worthwhile responsibilities and opportunities.

I am finding fulfillment, thanks to Your guidance. I am more certain of myself, and my confidence in You grows with each passing day. When I finish a busy day and feel good, strong, and peaceful, I sense Your reassuring words:  "Well done."

"His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23

Thanks mom, for life, love - the unconditional kind, believing in me - even when I didn't, and above all... faith in Jesus! What a legacy! You are one amazing lady! Well done my blessed mother!

"Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Proverbs 31:28

Immeasurably more

Written Oct 8, 2012 2:25pm by Merrie Tschida

Right about now... one month ago, we were all gathered around mom's bedside preparing our hearts and minds to say a final goodbye, for now, to mom. She entered her true home in heaven while we witnessed her beautiful, peace-filled, blessed passing into the arms of Jesus!

It's a moment that I will never forget and don't want to. It changed me forever. And I am thankful to have been able to share the experience with my loved ones first hand.

A little over a year ago, the week that we got the news of mom's returned cancer, I was on the phone with both mom and dad. I had been doing my devotional and was led to a verse in Ephesians. At the time I just had to share what God told me through His word that morning. I was so overwhelmed with what I thought He was telling me at the time.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

I believed then, that God was telling me He was going to do so much more than we were asking for. That He was going to miraculously heal my mother of stage 4 liver cancer! Which, from what I've read and heard, is undoubtedly a miracle.

Now, recently, I've come across that verse again and it had a much deeper meaning than my initial understanding. Aren't our human minds so incredibly finite? So limited. So vastly underexposed. We put God into this "box" let's call it, that allows us to think we understand His ways... when in reality, it is impossible for us to really understand His depth, width, and breadth.

Did God do immeasurably more for us? Yes. Did He do as I initially thought? A miracle healing? No, not a bodily healing. An earthly healing. He healed her much more perfectly than we can possibly understand. She is better than ever! She is rejoicing and praising directly to the throne of God! Immeasurable... I should say so! And that's only the beginning. He has worked miracles far deeper than we can ever imagine in our hearts. He has drawn us closer to Him in relationship than ever before. That is the absolute most precious, priceless gift a person can ever receive on this earth. My gratitude to God and my mom for their sacrifices for our sakes cannot be explained.

So... in about one year's time, this word from God (in Eph. 3:20) has come full circle. Immeasurably more.

Mom's love was great. I'm thankful for that, for she taught me so much. God's is greater yet. His love endures forever!

Happy Mother's Day!

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b