Women's Focus Ministries: Sunday Writings.....May 8, 2016

Good morning and

On this Mother's Day, our Sunday devotional is written by Jan Andersen about the variety of mother-child relationships, and how God's relationship with us is a perfect model for all of us.

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Today's Devotional

"MATERNAL RELATIONSHIPS "

written by

Jan Andersen

At the stables where I used to take riding lessons, there was a new colt that was born that was all crooked and appeared deformed. The owners thought he would never grow up to be worth even trail riding, so they pretty much ignored him the first few weeks of his life. Well, as he grew a bit and stretched out his long legs and exercises them, faltering around at first and gradually gaining his coordination and confidence, he actually straightened out and looked pretty good! His momma was must a smaller mare, and he was so lanky, he had been scrunched up too tightly inside of her and just needed more space to spread out. Luckily, his mother nurtured him regardless of how he looked. A mother's child is usually the most beautiful baby in the world to her, regardless of what others think. God certainly sees all of his children as beautiful, and hopefully we can see ourselves in the same light.

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Illustration of the Bible Verse Psalm 139:13-14

For some, Mother's Day can be a wonderful time to honor the woman in whose womb they were created, who raised and nurtured them physically and spiritually, and who continues to have a healthy relationship with them. But for others it can be a painful reminder of a strained or lost relationship with their own mother, or of the inability to be a mother themselves. Sometimes foster or adoptive parents step into the picture, which can pose the same variables. There are even surrogate mothers literally and figuratively. This can include those who carry a child in their womb for someone else to parent, or those more distant relatives or those friends who are lovingly called "mom" or some endearing term because they have "mothered" others in a special way in their lives. Some of us are mothers ourselves these same ways, directly or indirectly, with equally variable relationships with our own children. Others struggle with the unfulfilled desire to be a mother. And then there are the mothers or children we have lost to death of whom this day conjures up painful memories. The variety of mother-child relationships and stages of those interconnections is endless.

We strive to be good children and good mothers and create loving relationships. However, there may be times we feel we have failed to do so. No one is perfect, of course. But through it all, God is with us, offering forgiveness and help, even when a situation seems hopeless. If we can trust in him to bless us according to his will and ask for help in all our troubles, we can rest assured he hears us and takes care of us. Our relationship with God is a loving and nurturing one at all times. We are blessed children of God, carried by him through the trials on this earth, encouraged to grow, and given all we need to blossom as his servants. All of us can strive to model that relationship with others in our lives here on earth, sharing God's love with them.

Dear God in heaven, thank you for creating my inmost being in my mother's womb. I pray that you would help me to be more like you in my relationships here on earth, loving and forgiving and sharing your blessings with others so that they too may flourish as your children. Forgive me when I fall, and pick me up again. Help me to remain ever faithful and to remember I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings, Jan Andersen

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Qu0ted Writing Irma Bombeck fr0m her book,
"When God Created Mothers"

“When God Created Mothers"

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

What's it for?"

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”

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How Mother's Day Began