My very sweet and precious Mother gave her “babies” (all 28 of them) a bookmark with a photo of her and my Daddy on the face of it. In her own handwriting she wrote:
2011
John
13:34-35
We Love You!
Mama & Dad
This particular passage reads:
“A New command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples (children), if you love one another.”
I feel in total union with my Mother at this time in my life and believe I fully understand her heart’s desire…Mama knows the innermost workings of my heart, and I think I know hers….
To have EVERY one of her children, grandchildren, family and friends love one another.
Just to love.
Simply love.
Only love.
Mama understands that life is short….
She understands that family is all that matters.
And, that family encompasses many people.
Her babies through physical birth, her babies through God’s special gifting, her babies through adoption, her babies through friendships and through church family.
She could not love any of us one single bit more because the love she has for each of us is total love…unconditional love…accepting love…encouraging love.
She loves us when we are arrogant, ugly, bitter, angry, mean-spirited and sinful.
She loves us when we are humble, sweet, kind, tender and Godly.
But, Mama is the utmost happiest and most joyful when her babies do the same as she emulates.
Love…
As God calls us to…
“and yet I will show you the MOST EXCELLENT way…if I have faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing….If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
LOVE IS…
Patient
Kind
Un-envious
Honorable
Selfless
Not easily angered
Forgiving
Delights in Godly ways
Rejoices in truth
LOVE ALWAYS
Protects
Trusts
Hopes
Perseveres.
Love never fails.
I think of all the gifts we can give my Mama, to love one another is truly the one she cherishes most…
Love when it is easy and when it is not.
Love which is true and freely given.
And, I believe that we, her children, want not only to give her that gift from us, but to one another.
It is something we can do.
Not just for our Mother, but for our Mother who knows that our love for one another…family, friends, and others is a direct reflection of our love for Christ.
And, we all can tell you, the only one Mama loves more than her husband and babies and friends is the author of love…
God
Who so desires us to love one another that he not only asks us to, but He commands we do…
So that when others look upon us
They see
Him.
We can all do that….
Blessings,
Lesa
