Dear Mom
Hey Siestas! Is there anything you want to say to your mom today? Or anything you wish you could say? She may already be Home with the Lord like mine is but sometimes writing out what is on your heart, even if the person never reads it, can be healing. On the other hand, she may be very much alive but face-to-face is just too awkward to say what you wish you could say. The blog is yours today for "Dear Mom" letters. Just keep them to one reasonable size paragraph . It may take a few hours for you to be able to see your comment so don't be alarmed. I'll be at church then at lunch today but I'll be very attentive when I'm home. I love you guys. Happy Mother's Day to you Moms!
PS. It's been several hours since this post went up and you guys have me just about bawling my head off. Some so sweet and some so painful. The Mother-Daughter thing can be very complicated. I'm like many of you. I could write a letter that goes something like, "Dear Mom, I love you and miss you so much. You were my best friend and favorite person for such a long time. So hilarious. Such a great story teller. Honestly, the world's best grandmother. I wanted your favor more than anybody else's on this earth. I would have done almost anything to get it and keep it. I wish so much things would have been different those last couple of years but we will make up for lost time when I see you. What a day of rejoicing that will be! No more sorrow. No more fear. I love you forever, Beth."
posted by Beth @ 6:46 AM
360 Comments
360 Comments:
Dear Mama,
I wish I could say this to your face and maybe I will when I get to heaven but then it may not be necessary. I love you and respect you and your life much more now than when you were alive. I wish I had shown you more love and honor when I had the chance. I realize now what love you had for me but at the time I thought everything was about me - now in my older age, my constant reminder to myself is "It is not about me". Thank you for all you did for me and my brothers and my Daddy. And thank you for the Scripture you left for me, Romans 8:35-39. I love you.
Dear Mother and Mom,
Both of you are gone, mom for 17 years today, and mother for 7 years on June 1. I miss both of you so much. There are so many days I would love to have another day with each of you to ask questions that I should have asked when you were here.
Thank you for always being there for all of us. Thank you mom for taking in these twins, and treating them like your own. Thank you mother, for being a classy woman, for teaching us to be women in our own right.
I love, and loved both of you so much. I hope I can be a mother, and take the best of both of you, and give them to my daughter.
Dear Mom,
You have been Home now for over 12 years. People at church still stop me and tell me they miss you, your smile, your sweet spirit. You were an amazing, Godly woman. My greatest compliments are when someone tells me I remind them of you. I do stirve to follow your example. Still loving you, Susan
Dear Mamma,
Thank you for giving me life.
I believe, since my birth, the devil has tried his best to destroy our relationship. It's been rough and stormy. But these past few years, the LORD has been helping both of us to get rid of all bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. He is making every day sweeter than the day before. I can see how the Lord especially uses the difficult things in our lives to help us grow in His grace and knowledge, to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus. And He will make everything beautiful in its time. Thank you for all you have done for me -- most of which I will never know -- and I ask God to richly bless you. I love you, Mamma.
(She's 78, I'm 58)
Denise/Monroe, GA
Dear Beth,
My parents divorced when I was only 5. Now at 32, I can truly say that God is mending broken pieces of many years of resentment. I will very soon be able to put a "Dear Mom" into words, just not yet. I look forward to reading the other Siestas comments because I have a 7 and 9 year old of my own that I pray one day will have no trouble writing a "Dear Mom" to me. Beth, I want you to know that you have become a mother in Christ to me through your Bible studies and blog entries. Thank you so much for inspiring me to become all that God wants for my life.
In Him,
Leslie
Dear Mom, I love you and thank you for instilling in me what family was all about. May the Lord smile upon you and bless you today and the days after.
Thank you, Mama Beth, and have a wonderfully happy Mom's day!!!
Dear Mom,
I wish I could say "Happy Mothers Day" to you today. I wish you were here today. I wish I could say some things I shoulda coulda said and I wish I could take back some things I did say :-( I love you and I'm thankful for the good memories, I'm thankful that I DO miss you and that God is able to heal situations and relationships that seem hopeless.
Dearest Mom....
I have always said "I want to be just like you when I grow up."
You are...always have been...my role model. Even though I share you with my five brothers, I somehow feel a bit special since I'm your firstborn and your only girl. YAY...something I can claim! But today, and so many other days, it is all about you!!! Even though I am 1500 miles away, you are tucked right here in my heart!
I love you so much, Mom, and I am praying especially for you today, YOUR DAY!!!
Love, Your #1.....Sue
Mom, I miss calling or seeing you daily for our talks, I miss your laughter, your hugs, your smile, your touch, your strength, your Faith(which I'm so thankful for) & your "calming" nature (which I am finally working on LOL). There is so much more but I know, it's in my heart forever as a treasure. I love you, mom. I know I miss you greatly, but I am THANKFUL to know I will see you again when our Lord calls me HOME. Praise Jesus whom is my True Love. I love you Lord.
Thank You, and I love you Beth. May God continue to bless you for being the Woman of God you are and sharing it with us, God's family of women whose lives you continue to touch and minister too. But the true blessing is already obvious in the legacy of Faith & Love for/in our Lord, you've given your daughters.
Thank you Lord for Beth's heart which is Yours and blessing her with her desire and passion to share YOU with the world. Please Lord, keep Your hand upon her, her family and her ministry so they can continue to be YOUR LIGHT to shine in this world. In Christ's Holy & Precious Name, AMen.
Dear Mom,
If I had lots of money and riches, there is much I would buy you today, but we both know that is not the case. The one gift I wish most for you today is not one that I personally can give you, but one you must receive from The Father Himself. It is the gift of healing, the gift of forgiveness, the gift of His unconditional love, the gift of HIMSELF. I hear you struggle with guilt from the past, from opportunities not taken, from loves lost, and choices made in error. But I would have you know, that I love you despite those. You were but a child yourself when I was born. No mother is perfect. We all just do the best we can at the time. You've made your mistakes. I've made mine and my girls will make theirs. That is just how life goes.
My gift to you today is a prayer that you would allow Christ to heal your hurts--past, present and future and that you would allow Him to be The Love of your life, your ever present help, your God, you Lord, your Everything.
Happy Mother's Day! I love you!
Mothers rock our world. I wrote a post about our precious moms this morning over at my blog if you'd like to check it out. Many blessings to each of you moms and would be moms. You are the backbone of our future.
Dear Mama,
You are on my heart this special day. Those last ten years of yours on this earth were so hard as you suffered from Alzheimer's disease. But now I remember how you were before your illness. Thank you for being a great Mom and Grandmother. I have five precious grandchildren now and would love to be able to enjoy them with you. I'm now the Grandmother! Thank you for all the many things that you did for me and my brother. I love you.
Grammy:
God's
Relentless
Affection
Marvelously
Modeled before my
Young Children
(and the rest of us!)
Thank you for honoring Jesus, respecting and helping Daddy, and loving us all the way from nursing infants to grown children who enjoy gathering with you to cook a jam-up meal! What a friend, what a mentor! You have been the hands and feet of Jesus to so many! It is my great privilege to rise up and call you blessed today!
I don't have a relationship with my mom.
I had my first son, Aiden, on February 2nd, 2009. He was born an angel due to umbilical cord strangulation. He was due on February 14th, 2009.
Today is a rough day for me. I'm having a hard time knowing that I am a mom, but he is not here to spend that time with me.
Thank you for letting us do this today.
Mom: you are my hero. I am inspired by you. I will always remember you reading the Bible to my dad before you went to church. He couldn't, becuase He just wasn't strong enough. Thank you for taking care of him as he waits to meet Jesus himself, you are tired, I know, but you are such a picture of loving sacrifice. I will always remember your faithfulness to read the Bible every day, to study with Jesus and to be a prayer warrior. I will always want to be just like you, but know I'll never be half the woman you are. You model loving kindness and servanthood like no one I know: making meals for those who are sick; visiting saints who are in the nursing home or hospital, baking brownies for the farmers next door, helping me plant flowers, because it's obvious that's NOT my gift! Making THE BEST YEAST ROLLS IN THE WHOLE USA! (YOU ARE A ROCK STAR: A LEGEND!)...
There's just too much to put here, but know I love you, and I am so, so thankful I get the honor of being your daughter! Love AND Like ya, Sher
Dear Mom:
I just want you to know how much I love you and I think you are amazing. I am blessed that you have been here for me all these years and I just wanted you to know there really aren't enough words to tell you how much love I have in my heart for you!
Happy Mothers day to you! and Beth thank you for letting me share my thoughts with the Siestas today. I love you too!
Lichelle
Dear Mama,Mimi, and I'Mama,
As I began to write this I suddenly realized that I am the oldest mother in our family now! I just hope I will be the source of love and encouragement you three - my mother and my grandmothers- were (and still are) for me.
How I miss being able to call you or drop by to visit! How I would love to tell you face to face the many things I still tell you when I am alone! Your family has grown, and they are all so precious and doing so well. Thank you for our great beginnings.
Mama, I discover new reasons to love and appreciate you every day!
Fran
Gulf Shores, AL
Dearest Mama,
I am so thankful to know that you are in heaven. Thank you for all that you did for me. I miss you and I love you always.
Your daughter,
Cindy
My Dear Mama,
I do so wish I could say this to you face to face but you've been home now for 25 years and this day doesn't get any easier for me as far as missing you and our talks. You were a great Mother and taught me a lot about how to treat a child. You taught me that God was there for me when I needed him. Now that I've raised our two children and watch them with their children, I know you're wisdom was His wisdom and it's still with us. I love you and someday we'll talk again and have a cup of coffee. Give Daddy a hug for me...
Jesus, too!
Dear Mom,
I don't know where to begin.
I admire you so much for the lady you are. You have been the model Pastor's wife for over 50 years. By your example my sisters and I have learned how to be respectful, polite, loving, gracious, God fearing women ourselves. You are full of wisdom.
Thank you for all the times through the years when I've been able to call you or talk to you about anything and everything. You have always been interested in what's going on in my life and my childrens' lives.
You are THE best cook. We may not have had much money growing up, but we sure had some good meals.
I appreciate that when we didn't have much money it was still important to you every Easter for all four of us girls to have a new dress and shoes. Many times you'd sew our dresses.
Thank you for staying with me for a week after both of my children were born. I couldn't have done it without you and I have those memories to treasure forever. (remember when I thought the dr. said to give Brian Ice Milk? (he was from India and I had a difficult time understanding him) and you thankfully understood him to say Isomill??? (the formula brand). :)
Thank you for loving God's Word like you do. I still see your Bible open in different rooms in your house. Thank you for taking me to church when I was little & seeing to it that I went as I got older and for teaching me the importance of being in God's house. Thank you for the times we've traveled together....even as recently as this past March when we went to Chicago for a vacation.
You may be 78 years old, but you are just about the cutest & classiest 78 year old I've ever seen.
I thank you for everything and love you with all my heart!
Love,
Valerie (your Valentine baby)
Dear Mom~
We are not close geographically and have certainly had our share of miscommunication over the years, yet I know your impact on my life both for bad and for good has molded me as a mom.
Thank you for continuing to pursue Christ. You inspire me from afar, and I want to keep loving Jesus better -- just like you are now doing.
I love you with my heart.
Pam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Mama~
I gained you in my life over 15 years ago now, and I am so happy to say my life has never been the same. You have embraced me as a true daughter in every sense of the word, and I am touched by your open appreciation of me as a wife and a mother to your three grandchildren. God chose you for me as much as He chose your son to be my husband. I will forever be grateful for the ways you have filled voids I never even knew I had.
I rise up and call you blessed on this special day!!
On His Adventure~
Love Pam
to my mama, hoping and praying that you will allow God to heal your heart and encourage you today. You raised 5 children on your own, with a man who hurt you constantly, God saw that too. and HE removed him and gave you a godly man. Aint that just how HE is!
I thank GOD for you, thank you for teaching me to remove myself from the situation and move on..love you, Happy Mothers Day!
Dear Mom,
I thank God for you and pray for you every day.
I thank you for forgiving me for all of my
childhood misbehaviors,
teenage talk backing and heartbreaks and
grown up . . .just for continuing to overlook any time that I don't do something I should, to love me and my family, to love Dad and always being God's servant.
You are the Best! You are definitely leaving a legacy. I so want to be like you when I'm over70!
Happy Mother's Day 2009!
I love you,
Sandy
Happy Mom's Day, Beth!
Thank you for being you, and for all you do!
Mom,
Thank you for the lessons you taught me even when I didn't want to learn. You taught me to persevere in tough times, not to give in. I often wonder why you stayed with dad. He was so abusive to you. You said it was so we would have a dad in the house. Somehow, you always were able to see the humor in all situations. Today, as I struggle being a single parent, I look to the humor. But I have something else I look to. God helps me every day. I never heard you speak much of him. I have shared my faith in him with you. Someday, I hope we can sit and pray and share openly together. I love you mom!
Jan
Dear Mama,
Last we spoke, you asked me not to call you anymore, no longer wanting me to be in your world. I want you to know that I miss you. My heart aches. I want you to somehow believe that despite my many imperfections, weaknesses, and mistakes, I do love you. I know I can't convince you of that...And now, without contact, I can't tell you such either. You are the only parent I have left. I know you feel valid in my being a daughter you no longer wish to connect to. As for me, my heart aches. You are the only Mama this kid has.
Lord, I entrust her to you...
Dear Mom,
Though you are still here with us, due to disease a little of you disappears each day. I miss the person you used to be, I love who you are now, and rest in the knowledge you love Jesus with all your heart and I know you will never forget Him and what He did for all of us on the Cross.
I love you so much. Thank you for taking such good care of me as a child, for parenting me, and then becoming my friend when I became an adult.
I love you.
This mother's day I thank you, and I am so proud to be your daughter. You have been doing this thankless job for 33 years. You amaze me with your tireless creative ways to parent and build a family that you have graciously allowed to change and grow. Sometimes at the expense of leaving you and Dad feeling alone. You have shown me how to love your man through thick and thin and how to hold tight, but not suffocate children who want to grow up with out guidance. Thank you for not giving up on me...it would have been so much easier for you.
Thank you for showing me that footprints left on the mission field far outweigh my desires to run a marathon or make my mark on any golf or tennis course. Thank you for letting me make my choice to do all of the above...with out guilt.
You have shown Suzanne and I all the grace and wonder that being a wife and mother has to offer ....all the while showing us the honest and often painful truth of living out this journey holding strong the values that have kept us an unbreakable unit. There is no mistaking God's hand in this family...we are full of ups and downs.... and ain't no way we claim to be perfect......but Mom....hands down we all owe it to you for the glue that got us this far.
This is fun and real...I love being a MOM. I love that I am not trying to measure up to this world's standards of having it all and doing it all in this phase of my life. I take joy in the freedom of just doing it one day at a time...and that in years to come the girl's will be out of my home and I might be spending Mother's day on my own, and that's O.K.
...YOU are the mom we all aspire to be. You are a precious Grandmother and I am thankful that my Father paired us together....
Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!
Dear Mom,
It's ok that you have cancer. I'm ok with it. I don't want you to be sick, but in the cancer I've seen something happen that I've always wanted. I've seen your hand open, and slowly, I've seen control slip out. I've seen self-reliance moving through your fingers. And I've seen you reaching for The One who's been in control all along. What God can do with a cancer is finally allow you to live your life without being chained to stress and worry and need to control. Finding you loving Him and leaning on Him has given me the freedom to get out of that same pit of controlling, stressing mess. So cancer is ok, because God is finally where He always should have been. I love you, and will be with you through whatever treatments you face.
Dear Mom,
Even though you are still on this earth I miss you. I pray for the healing of our relationship and am believing that our loving Father will.
Love,
Kathleen
Dear Mom,
I love you for the strength you were to our family after Dad left us. You worked so hard just so we could have the necessities of life. As I became older, I loved that you never spoke unkindly about Dad, even though you most certainly had reason to, because as you said "He is your father". It was about 3 days after I became a mom, that I realized what incredible love and sacrifices you made for us...and I never loved you more. And now, in your 80's you should be able to relax to your heart's content, but you take care of my sister who is so sick and it just breaks my heart to see you worry so, about her. I love you.
Melana
Dear Mom,
I am so glad that Beth Moore asked the bloggers to write to their mothers today.
I am encouraged and strengthened as a mom.
To be able to read the posts of women writing these beautiful things to their mothers; even from the bloggers who struggle with this day gives me hope as a mother myself.
What you meant for evil, God meant for good. I forgive you.
Michelle
Happy Happy Mothers Day to my Precious Mom!
I LOVE you so much! Everyone loves you! I am beyond thankful, grateful and blessed that you are my Mom! You will never know the depths of Joy I have being your daughter! I treasure that your are my best friend! I love your smile : ) our talks on the phone, the way you love and adore everyone (especially me and my family... you are the best "Boppie") But most of all I am thankful for your faith... your heart for HIM! That is the biggest gift you have given us! It is what draws people to you... you are a reflection of Him to all! Thank you Mom! You are my bright spot! Only wish we lived closer!
I PRAISE HIM for you today! GBY! Emmy : )
Dear Mom,
What a friend, teacher, and mentor you were to me! I already asked the Lord to give you a big hug and kiss for me this morning while I was praying. I wonder what it was like for you when He pulled you into His lap and said, "This is from Roxanne. She said to tell you Happy Mother's Day and that you were a great mother. She loves you and misses you."
Mom, I know you too well! I bet you are still beaming!! I am so happy for you, Mom! I do miss you tremendously, but KNOWING that you are with Jesus sustains me and gives me strength.
Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for teaching me to love Jesus with all abandon! I'm HOMESICK so I hope to see you soon!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS and SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR YOU MOMS WHOSE ARMS ARE EMPTY THIS DAY AND YOUR HEART ACHES. GOD BE WITH YOU!
Dear Mom,
I wish so much you were not aflicted with mental illness. I wish that you didn't tell me that you "want more out of life than being a mother and a grandmother." I wish you could think past your own immediate gradification. But mostly I wish, and I pray, that I could forgive you for the childhood I never had. I pray that I learned to be a better mother because of the pain. I also pray that you will know Christ before it is too late.
We haven't spoken in over a month this time. I guess I could be the one to call you on this Mother's Day.
Thank you Beth,
Traci
Dear Mama,
How I wish I could be getting ready to sit with you at church and then enjoy a wonderful lunch with all our family! Although your body is laying there in bed, Alzheimers has robbed you and us of a relationship for the last 10 years. I thank God for wonderful memories! Memories of your laughter, your generousity, your unconditional love and your obedience to God. I now long for Him to call you home...to make you whole again. I love you!
Martha in MS
Dear Mom,
I love you, and forgive you. I so wish you could have met your grandaughters, oh how you would love them. I miss you and the years we should have had together. Happy Mothers Day and thanks for always doing the best you knew how. Your three girls turned out just fine!
Mama,
I have always thought I was the most blessed person on the planet to get to have you as my mom. I've often felt so sorry for other people that they don't get to have you as their mom! You have consistently lived before me a life that was quiet (in the Biblical sense of the word), gentle, extremely caring and compassionate, and unfailingly loving. I've never seen you return evil for evil, but you have always sought to see and believe the best in others. Thank you for being my number one prayer warrior and my biggest fan! I hope that I get to be just like you when I grow up. :)
love,
Sara
Dear Mama,
You've been gone 9 years now. God has opened my eyes to so many things. We never said I love you to one another. It was just too hard to say the words, I guess. I want you to know that I have forgiven you and I love you very much. I am so thankful that you came to know the Lord. It was my heartfelt prayer for you in your last months that God would not take you until you were saved. He was faithful. I look forward to a wonderful reunion one day. Love, Sam (Sabrina)
Dear Mom,
I thank you for the Godly influence you have been and continue to be in my life. You have been an excellent example of how to be a wife, a mom, and a student of God's word. As I've gotten older and had children of my own, it has made me appreciate all you have done for me (like this morning, cleaning up after a sick little boy, 1st thing on Mother's Day!). God has truly blessed me by giving me a Mom like you!
Love,
Your Daughter, Traci
Dear Mom,
I don't know that you ever felt on the hook, but it's important to me to let you know you are off it.
You are off it for not being able to give me what a daughter needs from her mother. You can't give it because you don't have it. You are broken, Mom, and as much as I've tried to show you the love of Christ, you'll hear none of it. That destroys me because as complicated as our relationship is, I don't want there to be an eternity without you in it. I don't want to cease knowing you ever existed. That's where I've had to let myself off the hook. I finally realize I can't save you.
I will always continue to plead for you in love and hope. But, as much as you wish you could pass your bitterness on to me - I don't receive it.
The dysfunction stops here.
Dear Maw-Maw,
I love you and miss you. I long to drink coffee with you on the swing this afternoon and laugh as you tell stories from your youth. You are so precious to me. Thanks for loving us all and investing in us. You are the best example of motherhood, Sweet Mary.
I wish you knew how much you meant to all of us.
Dear Mom,
Today is a hard day as you said yesterday that you did not want me to come over even though I wanted to. I'm sorry for being insensitive to your feelings over Tio Juan's death....there is no excuse. Pastor Rick said last night that God is very clear in his commands that we are to honor our mothers...even when it is hard and there has been hurt. There has been so much hurt between you and I mom...but I repent now. I love you in my heart and I pray that God would bring healing to our relationship. I pray that you would find love, forgiveness, healing, and your very identity in Him.
Love your miija,
Bethany
Mom, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for your forgiveness, your kind words, your wisdom. Thank you for sharing my tears and for making me smile. Thank you for introducing me to God our Father! I love you, Happy Mother's Day!
Dear Mom,
I know that I will see you for lunch in a few hours...(and hopefully we won't accidentally pick a bar for your Mother's Day Restaurant this year - nice work Dad! - seeing as you two haven't had a drink in your life! But you HAVE to admit, that boy with all the tatoos and piercings, gave you GREAT service last year! And I did leave him a big tip.)
What I probably won't say today is that I am sorry that I have not given you perhaps the one thing that as a Mom you really wanted for me, a family. Single and 37 isn't easy - but I want you to know that I know that it isn't easy for you. My generation has a context, that yours does not...and while my friends understand I didn't set out to be husbandless and childless at this age, I know you field an endless barage of questions and suggestions while over coffee from your gal pals...that aren't easy. And while we both know that God has an incredible and perfect plan for all of us... I know that sometimes it hurts you - even when you say it doesn't. You forget Mom, that the first book a daughter learns to read, is her mother's face. So, while I don't know what the future holds, I am so thankful that you did introduce me to the One who does hold the future. And today we'll both remember, that the Maker is my husband, and the Lord Almighty is his name. I love you so much, and we both love Jesus more.
(And Mom, if you are readng this - tell Dad to not use today to try some quirky sounding restaurant that "he read about somewhere" - I gotta show my face at work tomorrow)
Dear Beth, my Spiritual Mom,
These last couple of years have been very difficult for me as my son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease which the doctors say is terminal. But of course you and I know God will have the last say on that! During this time, I have studied The Patriarchs and Jesus My One and Only with my bible study group. There were so many spiritual insights in those studies to help me cope and gain understanding of God's character. As you perfectly stated in Patriarchs "When you are in the pit -like J oseph -remember the caravan is on the way!!" I have remembered that so many times on difficult days. You have taught me that my God is a God of Promises and He is always faithful to deliver in His time. And, your portrait of Jesus and His love for us always brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Beth today on Mother's Day. You have shared with me the most important things a mother can share with a daughter. May God Bless you abundantly today and always. Love.
~Dear Mom~
Thank you for praying so much for me. Through all the "stuff" of growing up, I'm sure your prayers were impactful whether they were answered right away or not! ;)
And thank you for continuing to pray for me, my man, and my kids today. Surely, you know the road I'm on and could know ways to pray that I cannot see at the momemt. I love you and thank you for such great faithfulness!
your daughter,
rachel
Dear mama,
Not a day goes by that i don"t think about you. I know one day i will see you. I love you so much and miss you very much. Thanks for loving me unconditional. love you.
love, Jeanette
Dear Mom: Even though we live physically close to each other, we are not as close in heart as I wish we could be. Our busy lives get in the way and I'm sorry for that. I thank you for all the wonderful things you did in raising me, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I pray daily that you will grow so close to Jesus you will discover why I love Him and serve Him so. He is my all in all! I want you to see Jesus in me more than anything. Forgive me when I don't model that "love is the more excellent way." I love you Mom, and I look forward to all Christ is going to do in both of our lives this year. Happy Mother's Day.
~Jan
I love you Beth - this was hard.
Dear Jesus,
You know many years I was upset with you for giving me my parents. I would tell people if there were 20 couples in a row and my parents were part of it, and I had a chance to pick parents, I would not pick my own.
I could not of come to place of wholemness or forgiveness without you Jesus. So today, I thank you for giving me life and giving me my parents.
Even though mom never was a mom to me, I did receive some love at some times and I am grateful for that. I am grateful she has been there for me in her last years on earth and you have used her tremeoundously to give me freedom. I do love you mom and I thank you for the love you did give me in your special way.
Dear sweet AMma,
Amma, I am so thankful to God for you. I have watched how you came to know Jesus and then ran with it--your life is justa huge testament of what God can do through one person who is committed to Him. I am so thankful that by the time I wake up in Canada, I know you have been up in India and have prayed for each of your 3 children, their spouses and grandchildren by name . You are such an embodiment of the Proverbs31 woman. When i am all grown up I want to be just like you.
Love, Annie.
Dear Beth,
I'm not sure you will even see this...but I just wanted to thank you for this blog, the studies, everything that you do for the Lord. Like another siesta posted, I'm 32, my parents divorced at 7, but it was good, my father was quite abusive. My mom had me at the age of 15. She had to walk a very difficult road...a road that she did not have to. I kind of am at a loss for what to say to my mom. I love her so very much, but we don't see each other often. I feel like if the Lord could sit down with her face to face, He would tell her that it's ok. She can just rest in His mercy.
Often I read your blog entries and think, yep, that's how I want to do it for my girls. Thank you SO much for being so candid and open with us on here...it gives me such a Godly example.
Look forward to seeing you in Stockton, Ca!!
Oh gosh I just realized I went on and on about myself and forgot to wish YOU a Happy Mothers day!! So, Happy Mothers day! I pray it's a day of rest and renewal from such a busy week. Your girls a wonderful testament to what a fantastic mom you are...and us Siestas kinda like ya too =)
Hi Mom, Happy Mother's Day. I don't get to see you this weekend due to your traveling but I want you to know that you are in my thoughts today. It was such an awesome (and tearsome) story you told me the other day of how you got to put flowers on your mom's grave for the first time. As you were telling me it occurred to me that it couldn't have been a better time then the week of Mother's Day. With losing your mother at the age of 8 and having a step-mother, for 50 years, that was such a woman of God you turned out to be a great MOM. Thanks for all that you do. Love you very much.
Dear Mom,
I just don't know what I would do without you. You mean the world to me and I realize that who I am today has everything to do you. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for our family throughout the years. I LOVE YOU!!
Mom, I love you.
When the Lord took you home on the day after Mother's Day in 2006 it felt like a blessing, for you'd suffered greatly in the six months leading up to that day. Cancer is brutal. Bringing you into our home, caring for you and loving you during that time--difficult and beautiful all at the same time. I miss you always, and especially in May...but knowing you are with Jesus makes it bearable. Thank you Mom for every time you made me laugh. I treasure my memories of you.
Love, your daughter.
Dear Mama,
On this very difficult day for you, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. This is your first Mother's Day without your own mother (my Granny) on Earth, but you are handling it so gracefully, just as you did while you were caring for her before she started her eternal life. You, Mama, are a shining example of what God intended motherhood to be. I can only pray that I am the same kind of Mama to my two children. Thank you for the best gift you have ever given to me...leading me to Jesus. I have never known a day that Jesus didn't love me and that is thanks to you (and Daddy.) I love you.
Dear Mom,
I haven't seen you for 21 years. I wonder if you remember that my 23rd birthday is in two months? I don't know where you are, who you are, or what you are like. I'm not sure why you didn't want to be there when I was growing up. I don't know if you and I have anything in common. I'm not even sure if I look like you. But I want you to know I'm not mad at you, I don't resent you. The Lord surely has worked out this situation for good, and who knows what else He has planned for the future. I hope one day we will have one thing in common: Jesus. We may not ever know each other while we're on this earth but my hope is that we'll spend eternity catching up on lost time. Happy Mother's Day.
Hey Mama,
Thank you for being the best Mama a girl could ask for. I miss you, but I'm looking forward to being reunited with you in Glory. Thank you for all you taught me and continue to teach me, even in your absence.
I love you!
Dear Mom,
If I could talk to you this day, I would tell you how very much I love you. I didn't always realize what a treasure you were, and I look forward to spending all eternity with you. Your grandchildren still think of you with such love and have many treasured memories. You experienced much heartache in your live and it grieves me when I think of pain I caused you. I am ashamed and sorry, if only I could hold you and tell you. I am so thankful you are walking streets of gold and safe from the sorrows of this world, but, O Mom, how you would have enjoyed each little great-grandchild. How I wish they could have known you. We lost you to cancer too young, but you left us loved, we miss you, our beloved mom.
One of your girls
Dear Mom~
How dear you are to my heart! I love you more than words can say. I wish I would have told you more, I wish I would have shown you more. You know how much I love you! You were such an inspiration. I hope to honor your memory by loving God, my husband and my kids fully! Without fear or regret! You have only been gone a short time, but how Homesick I am!
Thank you Beth for the beautiful letter you sent me recently. Your study of Esther was the last gift my Mom & I were blessed to share together!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY BETH & TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SIESTA'S!!!
Jennifer Baker
"Parable of Motherhood" by (Irene) Temple Bailey says all that I could ever hope to say if I could write. My mother's scripture verse is 2 Timothy 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.A blessed Mother's Day to Beth Moore who is a spiritual mother to more women than the stars in the sky that shine as brightly as Beth who reflects the glory of God.
Dear Mother and I-mama,
Thank you for all that you both taught me in life. You showed me how to live by setting an exemplary life. You brought me to church every time the doors were open and taught me to put God first in everything and He will supply my needs. I feel so blessed to have been raised in such an environment. Although we were poor by worldly standards we were rich in heavenly blessings and things the world can’t buy with all the money on earth. As time has moved on and things in life have become more complicated and just plain hard, I draw strength and encouragement from things you have said and for you teaching me to open God’s word to sustain me from day-to-day and even sometimes from moment-to-moment.
I love you both and wish you the best Mother’s Day ever!
Love and Hugs,
Jan
PS I-mama I can’t wait to see you in Heaven someday soon…I miss you so much!
I wrote my mom a letter on my blog a couple days ago. There is nothing like loving on your mom in a public way!! She loved it!!
A synopsis:
Mom,
I am proud to be your firstborn......even though I challenged you in every way! Thank you for mothering me with no pretenses. You are very real and I appreciate that more now than I did when I was young. Thank you for giving me siblings......I know raising 5 kids was almost more than you could take at times, but it is one of the greatest gifts you could have given me. Thank you for showing me that a relationship with God is just that...a relationship. It is not legalistic, it is not one sided. Thank you for telling me over and over my whole life that you pray for me. I love you!!
Keri
WITH GRATITUDE:
Although my mother will never read this blog(we have yet to convince her that she can use a computer!) I do not want to pass up this opportunity to thank God for giving me such a faithful christian mother.
Janice
Halifax,N.S.
Dearest Mon, What a wonderful momma you are to me and my siblings!!! I love you so very much and just to think this time last year we were sitting in the hospital in Corinth MS with a broken hip and now you are walking without the help of anything but the Almighty LORD Himself is beyond me!!! I adore you and hope to be to my boys what you are to me. Pure Joy and Unconditional Love. Your Daughter, Becca
Dear Mom,
Last Mother's Day you were recovering from brain surgery to remove a tumor. We had just been given the news that you had cancer in your brain and lung. But OH what a year it's been. Today you get to come to my house and celebrate life. You're not in remission, but you're alive and thriving after a very difficult year of surgery, radiation and chemo. I am so blessed to be your daughter!
Dear mom,
I wish I hadn't been invisible all these years. I wish it hadn't taken my sister's death for you to see me, and I wish that you would have chosen to see me for me, instead of simply by default.
I love you because you are my mother. But 26 years of being invisible makes it hard for me to open a scarred heart.
melissa
Dear Mom,
I love you and I honor you today! I love you for the close relationship that we have always had - you have always been my mom, BUT I am so proud to say that I have always considered you to also be my best friend! I love you for the love you showed to each of us four girls growing up! And for the way you taught us to love our daddy! I am proud of the relationship that you share with my daughters - they love their grandma! Thank you for making them feel special and loved unconditionally! I miss you today, but am so thankful that I can call you today and tell you that I love you! Happy Mother's Day Mom! We all love you so much!
Luain
Dear Mom,
This is my second Mother's Day with you in heaven. I miss you every single day. I am glad Daddy joined you so soon after you left us, but my heart is still sad with how lonely I am for you both.
Thank you for taking me to Sunday School every week, even on vacation. Thank you for letting me see you read your Bible so often. Thank you for all the women's retreats and Bible studies and luncheons you attended with me. Thank you for loving me and growing me and always listening to me.
I miss you so much, Mom.
I will see you someday, when my time here is done. Oh and Mom, I have a baby Granddaughter now!! She is already 6 months old and I wish you could hold her. You would love that she is named after me.
I love you.
Corinne in Chehalis
Mom, I'm cooking for you right now. Still hoping at 40 that you'll be pleased with me. You never are. I thought giving you a grandson would do it. Nope. I pray today that you receive the grace of letting in Jesus Christ..that you would hand over your hurts to the healer. I love you in my feeble, fractured way. I wish you liked me. I wish you loved me...I'm sure you do in your feeble, fractured way. Forgive me for being a daughter and not the son you always imagined would fill you up. Please seek the Son of God who will fill you up.
Wow, all of these mom letters have me crying like crazy!
First of all, I hope I can be a new "siesta," as I'm a new reader since following Mellisa's journey in India (who is, btw,a writer that truly speaks from her heart and inspires others!)
And you, Beth, I've long admired you! A few years ago I did one of your Bible studies, and I had the privilege of seeing you at Women of Faith in Cleveland--you are a hoot! Happy Mother's day to you and all the other mom's out there!!
And to my mom, I write her and tell her how much I love and appreciate her all the time.XO
Happy day,
Stacy
It's been a year since you've been gone. Nothing is the same, and I think about you everyday. Miss you terribly, and I find myself faltering without you these days. Good or bad, I'm realizing you were a big part of my motivation. But with each passing day, BECAUSE I miss you so much, I am understanding more and more what a special thing we had - and what an incredible person you were. I think I might have had the best one ever. Thank you so much for pouring into me more than anyone else in the whole world. Thank you.
ps - You're gonna be a Grammy again - but you knew that, didn't you?
Dear Mom,
You are the mom that God picked for me. He knows best! You have been uplifting, tough, loving, powerful, smart, and caring in every day since I was born - you are someone I respect not just because you are my mom, but because you are a wonderful lady. Thank you for your commitment to living an honorable life. I love you!
Blessings in Him,
Molly
The Journey Continues ~
Dear Sweet Beth,
My heart is with you on this Our Mother's Day! Not having your mother on earth to celebrate this day must cause a little tugging on the heart ~ I send you a prayer of joyous & loving memories!
I Have so much to say about my "M"om on Mother's Day ~
SHE IS MY INSPIRATION!!
But First, I want to share that
My husband and sons are all great poets and each gave me their gift of love ~
Below my son gave me this gift on Mother's Day. He wrote lyrics, music and recorded this on a CD for me!
I want to share it~
Mother May I
Mother may I say just how much you mean to me
Mother may I play this song for you on Mother's Day
Mother may I be all you want for me to be
Mother may I see everything you do for me
You drove us to school after getting out of bed
whether we wanted to get up or stay asleep instead
Before the sun was up our breakfast was prepared
with eggs and smoothies, toast and cut up apples
and to both of our surprise a sack lunch and a note would be waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs
and earl grey tea with hazelnut would be drunk on Sunday morn
and winter time and harvest time we wouldn't have a care
and with a smile
you would send us off in style
and later we would come back home and say
she loves and hopes and laughs and brightens everybody's day
and she prays that god will grant everyone a break
she gives all that she is and nothing does she take so...
she does her very best
to clean up every mess
that we make almost every single day
and I must confess that my Mother is the best
and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Mother may I say...
I am sitting here with tears rolling down my face!!
My Precious mother gave me the love,faith,compassion and giving spirit that I strive to fulfill in such a time as this!!! To always think of others before myself!!!!!
Proverbs 31 was written with my precious mother in mind!!! I rise and call her BLESSED!
Thank you for letting me share on this our Mother's Day!!!
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
Dear Mom,
I wish that you were healthy and strong and that I wasn't waiting for word on the latest status of your health. I wish I was close by and could have taken you to the hosptial today. But I am thankful that we have talked about Jesus in the past. I am choosing to believe that you accepted Him as your savour and that regardless of what today or tomorrow brings, I will see you again. I love you and instead of wasting time wishing that things had been different, I am thanking God for what we did have and that without you I wouldn't be who I am. I love you.
Dear Mom,
I am so glad that in May 1986 we blindfolded you & wisked you away to your favorite brunch setting. Little did I know that three months later cancer would take you from us. Mom although you know I loved you I wish that I had said it more often, or just thanked you with more hugs for all the things you did for me. You loved me unconditionally, and I miss your laughter,your joyful spirit & fun family times. You taught me to believe in Christ even though life was not perfect.
you always said "it will be better tomorrow" during hard times.
I wish that my grandchildren could have known & loved you too.
Mom, I love you.
Happy Mothers Day.
Louise
Dear Mom,
Thank you for a legacy of faith that you lead for your children and grandchildren to follow. We are blessed to live close to each other. I love laughing with you every week when I come over to "clean" your house. I.LOVE.YOU.
To my mother-in-law,
Thank you for bringing my man up in the faith. Thank you for being there for me, too. I love our get togethers at Big Boy for our "dessert" of a Belgian waffle with strawberries. I also want to thank you for introducing me to Beth Moore. I don't think I've ever grown so much in my faith in one year before. I have a looong way to go, but I never want to stop working at it. I can't wait to go to the simulcast with you in August!I.LOVE.YOU.
Thanks for this opportunity,Beth! I.LOVE.YOU.TOO!
Joan
In honour of my dear Godly mother:
She exemplified to us the character of Christ in all she did - every aspect of daily living from attitude to works- including the graciousness of her hospitality to many. She would have loved the Beth Moore studies, which we her daughters feel would have enabled her to develop her self-confidence and self-esteem - and verbally express Christ more, which she struggled to do.
During her long struggle with cancer, she exemplified to us the Surety of the Lord, His Sovereignty, His Grace that He gave her daily, His Omniscience.
She was so thankful to know us daughters were grounded in the Word and the Lord, and able in her last days to see us so refreshed in Him upon discovering the Beth Moore Studies, about 9 years ago now.
I am so honoured and humbled that the Lord chose my mom to be the one who prayed with me to receive Christ as my Saviour when i was so young, my mentor, my best friend, my children's godly grandmother. My heart actually lept for joy when she finally entered heaven - to see her beloved Saviour face to face and be free of pain and in a new body - oh twas like we could reach out and touch heaven - I am so thankful to the Lord to have been part of this very godly family - that expressed His Hands and Feet and Character in all they did. By His Grace and with His Strength, we daughters are following and serving Him because of our parents prayers and example to us.
May this testimony be of encouragment to others to seek Him every day in His Word and in prayer - to be the Fragrance and Aroma of Christ to others. (2 Cor.14-15) Amen.
Dear Mom,
Oh how I love you. My deepest, neverending prayer is that some day we could share the love of Jesus together. I love Him so much and wish we had that common bond. Until that day, I will continue to love you with "authentic love and joy" (Beth, I heard you give that advice once and it has so stuck with me!). I know the Lord is working, slowly allowing seeds of His love to plant in your heart. I pray someday you will surrender. You are an amazing mom, friend and grandmother. Thank you for everything.
Dear Mom...I wish you would choose Jesus and give your heart to Him.
Love, Michele
Dear Mom,
I'm so thankful you are still here on earth with us! I know you can't wait to be with Jesus, I feel the same way! Two very important truths you passed down to me come to mind today. First,it's all about JESUS! Second, brown fat is prettier than white fat! Yahoo for the spray on tan! Love you, Lori
Beth, thanks for this opportunity. I do not want to sound ungrateful. It just feels safe to anonymously share these feelings. I recently listened to your series on Life Today and your lesson included the topic of narcissism. I think I finally "locked in" why I sense a hole in my relationship to my mother. She has missed so much of the love I would have liked to express to her due to her narcissistic tendency. I have never been able to be honest, open and real with her. She can be generous, kind etc., but you never know what to expect. She can be very mean and hurtful also. She seems to only be able to spin off her own reflection. I never felt and do not today feel comfortable with her on an intimate basis. I always need to be on my "guard". Do not get me wrong, she met my basic needs and served in the PTA, etc. She did not leave my brother and me during her tough separations and divorce from my father. I just never felt "cherished". I love that when your girls come home, you have money in your wallet that needs to be spent "at the mall" and you invite them to help you. I guess what I am trying to say, is that a mother who can communicate "unconditional" love and serve as a model is a gift which I know is rare. God Bless all of us "Mothers" and hopefully our children can forgive us when we have let them down. I have been very fortunate in that God has sent me several "Mother" substitutes to enrich and bless my life and fill in that hole every child craves- Happy Mother's Day dear sisters in Christ.
Mother's Famous Words;
Pray for them dear...
Jesus will never leave you...
Hokey-Smokey...Fiddley-dee-Mcgee
I've been reading all the comments here; and can't get thru them without tears. Very MOVING!!
Dear Mother and Beloved Friend,
Ever the optimist for 50 years, I coped between blissful denial and
sobbing dread that death would ever separate us.
After your sudden departure ("graduation" as you anticipated)
that October morning after we had said our evening love-you's on the phone, I found this note clipped from my summer email to you and folded into your wallet:
"When you move to heaven, a part of me will cry every day
until I move there too."
As a mother who cherishes her children and saves
those reminders of them for their discovery later,
how much more is God who weans our treasured souls?
Lee
Dear Mom
I forgive you
My prayer and my desire is for us to one day have the relationship that God always intended for us to have.
Dear "Mama":
I miss you. I wish you were here.
There are so many things I want to talk to you about...You left too early and too suddenly - at 57.
You were so brave after daddy died. I worried about you a lot...didn't want you to be alone. And, beyond anything I could ever imagine happening, you died 4 months later. I thank God that "your girls" were there with you - you were not alone. I thank God that you did not have to live a widow's life. But I miss you.
It will be 4 years on May 25 since you left us.
So much has happened.
I have been trying to have a baby for years. I wish I could hear your encouraging words and advice.
Stuart was diagnosed with cancer in November - at 31. I wish you were here to help us. You always knew how to care for me. We are almost done with chemo - it has been 5 months.
You would make my favorite meals and do my dishes (haha) and just be "mama".
I just wish I could put my head in your lap and let you scratch my head and back or go shopping with you or go to the beach with you (your favorite place on earth).
Zane and Macie - your only grandchildren - miss you. They still remember you. Shannon and I try to keep you alive in their minds and hearts.
Zane was in the bed with you when you died. He had a hard time after that - he was 4 (and is 8 now!)- but he is doing much better. You wouldn't believe how big and smart he is! A natural athelete...he still likes cars. Macie thinks you are an angel. She is 6 now and gorgeous. Shannon calls her "mini Candace". She is a lot like me - it is scary. She makes us laugh. She is very creative and LOVES to dance. She also makes up her own words. You would have a blast with them.
I miss you everyday.
I can't wait to hear your voice again.
I Love you.
-Your youngest
Dearest Mom,
Thank you for being a prayer warrior! You always prayed for all of your six children and you are now in heaven with Daddy and one of your sons. I just want you to know that your faithfulness in praying has really brought this family of more than 30 people through some really tough times. Though you didn't see many of your prayers answered while you were with us, many of them have finally been answered or we can all see how God is working to answer others. I now know Mom that you ALWAYS had in your heart what was best for your precious family. I thank you with all my heart that you never quit praying and always had hope! Thank you for Jeremiah 29:11-13. I love you Mom.
Your second born child
Dear Mom,
I wish I had told you more that I love you and admire you. I wish I had affirmed you as a mom. I saw that you felt judged because I did/do things differently than you did them. That my black and white view often hurt you because it came across hurtful. Will you please forgive me? Please know that I love you tremendously and that I miss your smile, your voice, your hug, and your presence in my life. You taught me one of the very most important things: being a mom is the best and highest calling a woman could ever have. Please know that I thank you for that. I miss you more than words can convey or fifteen months can cover. I know it's not Scriptural, but I ask God to tell you hi almost every day.
in His Love,
Me
(Beth- thank you for this opportunity.... I'm a mascara mess now, but I'm glad I said it)
It is a sincere prayer this Mother's Day that our Mom is looking down and prayerfully is proud of the life her 3 children are living, loving Jesus and professing our love for Him each and every chance we have. We miss you Mother, most especially knowing Mother's Day 1998 was the last time I saw you on Earth.
With Jesus' Amazing Love,
Kaye
Dear Mom,
I know our relationship has always been rough, but we've managed to make things a little better over the past several years. I want to thank you for leading me to Jesus, for making me stick with piano lessons when I wanted to quit, for showing me how to keep house and care for babies, for teaching me to love good art and music. I have inherited my creativity and organization from you. I also inherited your quick temper for which I'm not so grateful. It grieves me that you are ill with Alzheimer's and even though you still know who I am, we can never continue to work through some things that were never dealt with. I grieve that you are still in such bondage to anger, bitterness and a controlling spirit. I pray for healing for your mind so that your spirit can be healed. Have a great Mother's Day in China with Timothy, Naomi and their children. Wish you were here so I could take you out to lunch. I miss you, Mom.
Losing my mom at 12 never left this day a pleasant one, but I live in multiplied blessings. Now I am the one who likes to play monkey in the middle, have tea parties and am always looking for the lost brush. Each day is a treasure as I look into the eyes of constant love. What a great day.
Dear mother, I started out calling you mommie then came mama and then mom. Mother just seems more respectful for a child who is an aging adult. You have been with Jesus now for twelve years and after hearing the sermon this morning I am more and more aware that what a glorious day that will be when I see you again. I think as a teen I always thought we had such a disfunctional family but now that I am a senior citizen, I am so very, very grateful for the strong Christian background that I grew up with. I love you so much! Barbie
Dear Mother,
Thank you for choosing to have me when you knew from the beginning how difficult your pregnancy would be and that I might not even live. Thank you for being a Christian mother and leading me to the Lord as a young child. Thank you for sacrificing and scrimping and saving to meet my needs. Thank you for faithfully praying for me and my family now. I know I am blessed to have this heritage, and I am grateful.
Dear Mama,
You have been gone over 8 years now. I now have letters from the past 10 years of our troubled relationship that were found in the house and given to me. I have grieved over some you wrote and never sent and wonder why me? I struggle for answers, cry buckets of tears, my heart has broken a thousand times over you. I loved you so very much, I believe you loved me too. You carried so much pain, it spilled out of your heart on me, your 4th and last born. I will honor you always, love you always, because God asks that of me and He is my sustainer. Thanks you for being the best Mom ever especially before the storm hit our life. You were the best you could be and I will remember the best memories!! I do love you.
Dear Beth,
I already posted a note to my mom and wanted to say thank you for doing this...it was extrememly helpful on this difficult day.
I want to say to you that I appreciate you so much! You have taught me so much about the love of God through your studies, videos, and most intimately through this blog. You are a spiritual mom to me and I want to say thank you and that you are greatly loved!
Love in Christ,
Bethany
Dear Mom,
I wish that I knew you enough to even know what to write to you. I don't remember you at all...no memories. They say that I blocked them out because a lot of people do during a traumatic event. I wish that I could sit and talk to you for an hour or two to learn who you were. I get angry sometimes that I have no memories and that I had to grow up with out a mother. I hope that you are in Heaven and that I can know you one day.
Dear Mom,
I wish I could talk to you about your 14 year old granddaughter! I have so many questions that I just didn't know to ask you befor eyou went to heaven all those years ago when she was just a baby. Did I drive you absolutely nuts as she does me? I know you loved my unconditinally as I do her. Thank you for being my awesome, God-given Momma!
Dear Mom,
As I come into 20 years since you passed, I miss you more than ever. You have been such an example to me of womanhood, strength in trials, grace in relationships, loyalty, dignity, and fiery champion when those you loved were hurt. You loved even when it was hard, escaping the noose of bitterness that surely could have come so easily. You were gone before I could say this to you, and ever since I've wanted to be like you, to have been better to you and with you. I'm trying, with Gods help I will hopefully become the woman you dreamed of me becoming. A woman of grace, integrity, strength and unfailing love and loyalty. I have so far to go still. I can't wait to see you again.
All my love,
Debbie
Dear Mom,
It's been 31 years this week since I could say to your face I love you. I never knew how hard it would be to live my life without you here on earth. However there are time I feel your arm's around and know that even now I am alway's your baby. I hope you are proud of my life as it has evolved. And I wait for the day that we are together again. I love you MOM.
Dear Mom,
It's been over 11 years since you've gone to be with your Father. I miss you more than you know. Last night, I fell asleep remembering your bright smile and missing you so much...I remember you saying to Dad that, for some reason, you just had no love for me. I was so young then. But I remember and that wound had shaped so much of who I became. But I know you didn't mean it. I know that if you were hear now you would tell me how much you love me and how much I mean to you. I take that on years of watching you sacrifice for the family...me included. And for that one moment, something slipped...but I know that's not who you were. So...on this Mother's Day, I determined to finally let it all go. To truly forgive you for that comment and to live free of the burden of rejection. It's not what Jesus wants for me and I know it's not what you would have wanted. So, Mom, I just want to tell you how much I love you, how much I miss you, and if it means anything to you now...that I do fully forgive you for that. I promise to live free in Jesus for that's why He came, died, and has risen. I think that's the best Mother's Day gift I can give you today. I will remember all your wonderful, godly qualities that made you the wonderful person you were. Happy Mother's Day.
P.S. Thank you, Beth, for giving all of us space to do this. It's been since the Portland LPL event that the Lord has really brought this wound out so that I can allow Him to heal me. It's only fitting that I share this journey with you here. God bless you and keep you from all harm...Happy Mother's Day, Beth. Though you don't know me, you have been a spiritual mother to me and your teachings have brought me to the throne of God in complete surrender. Of all the crowns you'll receive in heaven, one of them will have my name on it. I love you.
Dear Mum,
I wish we lived closer so I could see you. I miss your smiles, your hugs, your laughs. I miss just being around you. I want to have a cup of tea with you...
I am so proud of the grace and dignity you showed when I was growing up. What we all went through was horrible for me as a child, but I know now how devastating it was for you as a wife. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but you gave me such a fine example of how to weather life's disappointments without becoming bitter and cold. You showed me how to be strong.
I love how you collect the shoes for the orphanage in Mexico, and how you lovingly clean them and put the handwritten tags on each pair. I'll never forget walking up the stairs in your house and seeing all those pairs of shoes lined up in neat rows! You have shown me how to humbly serve others with the love of Jesus.
I love you more than these few words can say...
Adrienne
Dear Mom,
I know we talked on the phone a few hours ago but I wish that we could come and get you and bring you here for a visit. I think about all that you have been through in your life, living with many relatives because your mom wouldn't care for you, going hungry most of the time, watching you pray for your husband, my dad, to be better to you and to walk closer with you only weeks later you were diagnosed with brain cancer. Your faith in God amazes me! Through brain cancer, surgeries and marital problems I have never seen your faith waver. Not. one. time. Your faith, and love for God speaks louder than anything I have ever seen! I even look forward to the times you start "preaching", as you call it and those are the times I know God is speaking straight from you to me. :) Thank you for praying daily for all of us. I am thankful that you are alive and fiesty as ever for Jesus!!
I love you!
Dear Mom,
This Mother's Day, I wish I could give you the one thing I know would give you such joy and peace. That would be the healing I know God can do in your life. I wish I could break down the barriers that keep you feeling like you're not even worth asking for help, asking for your Father's touch. So today Father, I ask for my Mom, that not by my might or my power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that you begin breaking these walls for a mama who doesn't even have the self worth to ask for it herself. Begin the journey of healing today Father.
Love you Mom!
K
Dear Mom - I would do almost anything to hear you say "no matter what I love you and am so proud of you". I may never hear those words from you - I would do anything to stop the fear filled criticism that I hear from you instead. I am sorry that I have had to distance myself from you - that you are missing out on being a grandmother - if you would only listen - and really hear what I am saying. I pray you hear these very words from your Mom because I know just like me you are waiting for them.
Dear God - thank You so VERY much for blessing me and allowing me to be a Mom - please use me and shape me into the Mom that my children need me to be.
Mom,
Thank you for "making me" go to church on Sunday mornings to Sunday School & Children's & "BIG" Church, Sunday night, and Wednesday night from the time I was 3 to 18. Sometimes I would say, "Every time the church doors are open, we are there." Now at 35,I understand why we were always at church & appreciate the foundation that was set early by you because now everytime the church doors are open, I want to be there!
Dear Mom,
I had been thinking just this week that I sure would like to talk to you. And now this opportunity...
Mom, you have been with Jesus almost 18 years now. I still miss you so much. You were my very best friend and my biggest fan! I can still hear your laughter, your voice, and sometimes I can even feel your hug. Thank you Mom for all you sacrificed to make my life better. Most of all thank you for showing me your love for Christ Jesus and the knowledge that you knew He was the one giving you the strength to battle cancer. You were the bravest person I have ever known. You suffered and died so graciously, and I know Christ was waiting for you.
I love you Mom and, because of God's forgiving grace through Jesus Christ, I will see you in heaven. Praise God!!!
Dear mom,
I am grateful you are still with me and read this blog and can read this post! I wouldn't be on this blog if it weren't for your example as a Godly woman. Growing up in cell groups and running around the Linden's while hearing the adults pray is a great way to spend childhood. Thank you for going without so we could have more. I love you mom aka california mum. Love, Lynn aka pinkboots
Mom,
Thank you. Thank you for having the caring compassionate heart that you have. Thank you for being proud of me no matter what stupid things I did. That means more to me then I could ever tell you.
Granny,
Thank you. Thank you for taking me under your wings to raise me when mom and dad wern't able to. Thank you for rasing me in a Christian home and taking me to church. Thank you for instilling the love of church in my life. Even though I don't tell you or show you enough as I should I love you.
I love you both and thank God for both of you.
Dear Mom,
I miss you so much. You been gone for eleven years yet I still have those moments of thinking I can’t wait to call mom and tell her about some event that has happened in my family’s lives. You were a great mom, my best friend and I wish you were still here with us but I know we will be together again in heaven some day.
I love you ,
Vicky
Dear Mama,
My prayer is that very soon I will be able to tell you that you are going to be a grandmother. I am so eager to be a mom...I've learned from the best!! And I know you are going to be an even more wonderful grandparent. I can't wait to see you in that role!!
Love you.
Dear Mom - How can I describe you? My memory of my childhood will always be filled with memories of your sweet voice and your love. More than anything, I will always remember your unshakeable devotion to Jesus. That's You mom. Jesus was and has always been your first love. That's you mom and thank you for modeling that for me. I love You. With love - Your Tina (Ola)
Dear Mom
You have had such a hard life but you always did the best that you could for me. I wish there was some way I could make your time that you have left here a little happier and easier. You deserve so much more. But remember that one day the Lord will wipe every tear from your eyes and there will be no more pain--just peace.
Just know that I love you very much and pray for you every day.
Wish I could be with you and you could read and understand this message sent with so much love and
appreciation. But we will one day be together in that heavenly place worshiping our Savior complete and whole.
All my love, your daughter,
Kristi
Dear Mom-this is what you have taught me to be a good mother:
M-mentor those younger ladies
O-others before yourself
T-time for children always
H-helpmeet to your husband
E-everything after God-He is first
R-reverence for the Lord
S-serve others with love and humility
Thank you Father in Heaven for giving me a Godly mother who taught me that Jesus is the only way!!
Dear Mom,
Thank You for all that you have done for me. I'm so sorry you lost your Home in Katrina but I have to be honest Ya'll put me through living Hell and I'm glad I never ever have to walk into that house again and relive the abuse because Ya'll never knew Jesus but It did make me a stronger person . I found Jesus at sixteen and My Pastors Wife told me that had I lived a different life maybe I wouldnt have found Jesus.
I'm now a Mom of four kids. Struggling really bad with my own kids I'm in a pit of having a Husband that acts like Dad did and not getting my emotions meet , cause He's hooked on porn and not saved and abusive.remember we spoke yesterday about this. I'm am miserable and I hate myself and my life so bad I just need a touch from God and a reason to keep living and going on. Sorry Sister Beth that this is so long. Pray for me I want the life that Jesus has for me not the one that I have now I'm truly hanging on a thread here and I'm 159 lbs overweight to boot. Please Lord give me a reason to goon and Please Show me your mighty healing power and your beautiful face. Please Heal and deliver Me and my Family and My Parents and My children. Sue
You have been gone for 23 years. Mother's Day is still painful after all this time. I wish I could tell you how much I love you and how I appreciate all you did for me. I wish you could see your grandsons. They are becoming such wonderful men. I wish you were here so that you could see that Bill and I have made it through 27 years of marriage. I'm sure that would shock you. I just hope that you had some idea of how much you meant to me before you left this earth. My anger has gone now at the doctors and yes, at God, for making you go through the horrors of breast cancer. As I turned 50 this past year, I thought alot about you and the fact that you died at 55 and wondered would that be my fate too. I miss you so much after all these years. You left a void in my life that no one could ever fill. Thank you Mom. I love you.
So many emotions - reading these postings . . . much pain - lots of tears, deep tears . . . I never knew that there were so many who had "my" story of childhood - single mom who raised 4 kids - not by choice, but by divorce - mom who has a mental illness and children always wondering when she would go off the deep end and many (healed) scars from that - mom who could not give love because she was always in survival mode - mom who tried as best she could - never enough money, never enough time . . . some "pictures" from childhood are never forgotten.
It is like there is a piece of me in so many of these postings - I can not imagine having a mom that encouraged me and prayed for me and showed me how to live life - I can not imagine, even remotely, a relationship with my mom like you have with Amanda and Melissa and like many of the Siestas are blogging about . . . it does not bring jealousy - just sorrow.
Beth, as painful as this is for so many of us - it is good - it is safe - and, I am sensing - strongly - that we needed this - tears are so cleansing - and it does help to know that one is not alone - that even if it is seeing pieces of oneself in so many postings and that causes pain - we are united and we face the future with hope - and we are encouraged - our hearts are being lifted up - and healed.
Thank you.
Dear Mom,
I wish I knew the Mom that strangers tell me you are...gracious, friendly, sweet. For some reason, I have never been able to live up to your expectations, no matter how hard I have tried, but I continue to do it in respect to Dad, who loved me unconditionally and to you, because the Lord commands me to.
Maybe someday...I will know you like strangers do.
Dear Mom,
We both know that our relationshp here on this Earth is not an easy one. I always knew I was not your favorite. I'm sorry for the times I told you that I knew. I know it must have hurt you so much. I'm sorry that I married a man you didn't approve of. And that I moved to another state after we married. But I want you to know, unlike you, I love my life as a Ministr's Wife. I know you dn't approve of the way I have chosen to raise my 4 beautiful children. But you should know that when they are adults I want them to be my friend. I feel that if I am so srict on them now they will never cross over from being my child to being my friend. I also am trying very hard to break the cycle of living a defeated, bitter life. It is a daily struggle for me. I am doing my best.
I am so thankful for all the lovely ladies who have been faithful to the LORD and modeled what a godly mother is for my young eyes to see. I try to exemplify them every day of my sressful life.
I pray that one day we can be more than a mother and daughter. I want to be friends.
Love, Laura
Thank you Siesta Mama, this was real hard.
Happy Mothers Day Mom,
I only had you 18 years and you've been home with Jesus for 35 now, but I still rise up to call you blessed as I cherish the godly mom you were to me. I wish you could know the godly husband God has blessed me with in answer to your faithful prayers and the four beautiful children he has enriched our lives with! As we left for church this morning and my strong 18 year old son hugged me so tight, I told him I still miss hugging you. Your frequent words of wisdom to your worry-wart daughter - "sufficient to the day is the trouble therein so don't be worrying about tomorrow" from Matt 6:34, have finally taken root as I've learned to trust my faithful Heavenly Father. I look forward to our reunion to come and can't wait to hug you tight again!
P.S. Happy mothers day to you too Beth - even though I'm your age or older, I also rise up and call you blessed as you are an incredible spiritual mother to me and so many who have come to know Jesus as the love of our lives by seeing you model that intimate relationship with our Lord & King! So many of Jesus words of wisdom that you have illuminated for me have blessed my life and those around me as I can't help but pour out those truths you've revealed to me - the latest revelation I just love to pass on is Malachi 3:16 - I too want to keep those heavenly scribes writing!Thank you!!
Dear mom,
I wish that you would have stayed around and taken care of the four of us kids. It is like there is a generation missing from our lives. Two of us are walking with the Lord and still close; two have cut off all ties from everyone. You live near all of us, but apparently still do not want contact with any of us. I'm the only one of your kids that had children. My children will be making me grandparents soon. It's taken years, but God has healed my heart. I wish that you had chosen to be a part of our lives. You missed out on an awful lot of blessings.
Dear siesta mama Beth
I wanted to tell you on this special day that I see you as my spiritual mom because 11 years ago you birthed me into the world of intensive Bible study. You have taught me to love His Word more than anything or anyone. I am now a pastor's wife and try to help others love His Word as much as I do.
While I was at the pastor's wives conference this year in Nashville, I was praying by my pew and I felt someone lay hands one me. I found out later from a friend that it was you. I wanted you to know that meant so much to me! Thank you for touching my life in so many ways!
Much love
Kristi B.
Dear Mother,
I wish so much that I had said this
to you before you went home to Jesus.
You were the best example of a follower of Christ that I have ever known. Your relationship with Him was something to see and marvel at.
I always knew how much you loved Him,
but never more so, than when I stood by your bed and you were in agony from the cancer and you prayed, "Father, make me worthy of this pain." You were amazing and I look forward to the day when I can say this to your beautiful face. I love you, Mother.
Esabelle
Dear Mother,
I never knew you. I don't even know your name...but Jesus does! So often I wish I could tell you THANK YOU for giving me life & not aborting me. I have prayed for your salvation for many years. I hope one day in heaven, I will get the chance to thank you in person.
Dear Mom,
How grateful I am that God gave you to me!! He knew just who I would need to love me, laugh w/ me & cry w/ me. He knew that thru you I would find Jesus!!! I love you so much!
Kacadoll
Dear Mom,
It had to have been incredibly hard, (I can't imagine) to be 17, and conceive a baby by date rape, and then to have your parents make you do extra housework in hopes of a miscarriage. To have this end with a child born three months premature, married to the man who raped you, not knowing if your child would live. (I did live, and now have children of my own.) Thanks for not taking the easy way out. Thanks for giving life to me, and walking down the hard road. I pray that God will continue to bring healing and restoration to our relationship. I love you. You're my hero.
Dearest Mom,
You were such an encourager to me from the moment I was born. You loved, laughed and hugged me each chance you got. I love and miss you so very much.
Express Delivery to Heaven
Dear Mommy,
This week will mark 6 years since we buried your cancer at the cemetery in Saratoga. 6 years since Jesus graciously removed you from your battle. I'm glad you are free from that.
But...
I miss you. I miss your laughter, your joy, your sense of humor, your spontaneity, your sense of adventure. I miss your wisdom, your total acceptance, your unconditional love. I miss the hugs, our long talks, sharing sweet memories. I wish I could sit and have a long talk with you now. How often I have longed for that! Most of all, though, I wish you could know your grandchildren. They would absolutely delight you. That's what makes me cry the most. I've done my best to keep you alive for them. They've watched so much video, seen so many pictures, and heard so many stories about you that they think they remember you. I wish they could know you in person. How precious your relationship with them would be, Grammy.
Thanks, sweet momma, for all you invested in my life. I am who I am today because of you. I am your legacy. I love you, and look forward to eternity with you.
Dear Mom, this is my first Mother's Day without you. I'm glad you're where you are...I know it's your best Mother's Day ever.
Beth,
Thank you so much for being my mentor. You have shown me a deep love for Jesus and I now have a desire to know him more. I just can't seem to get enough of him. I am able to cry now (I'm sure this is a good thing) at the drop of a hat. Yes, Jesus is so much more real since my path crossed yours through Bible Study. I thank you and love you deeply.
Jan
Dear Mother,
Bless you and thank you for being an unconditional lover of your family (even when that gets on my nerves), for being dependable and trustworthy, for loving my children and being a fun and cool grandmother, for tirelessly being faithful to others and to the Lord. You are a blessing and a joy to my life. I love you, J
Dear Mum
I love you- I know you've not always realised it, but I've always loved you. Seeing you with my babies and seeing how much they love you brings me great joy. Although I benefit so much from your helping with them, I hope you enjoy being Nanny too. I pray that you get the enjoyement from them you yearned for from me. Thank you for loving my pops - and for teaching me the value of family and loyalty and love.
I pray for you every day that you will get to know Jesus as your saviour - you really would love him if you got to know him - he's the real deal!
Love you to the moon and back! Your Daugher
Ems
Mama,
I don't say it nearly enough. I love you and respect you. You're the coooolest mom ever. You have taught me so much and I want to be just like you! I am so happy to spend mother's day with you today. And I'm excited about watching The Sound of Music together tonight! Thanks for always telling me how many ounces are in a pint, and how to make chicken casserole for the zillionth time. Thanks for my notes you always put in my lunch box (even in highschool!)Most of all, thank you for being so crazy about God you can hardly stand it. That's what I love most. You're the prettiest, craziest, and godliest lady i know. And you rock for real!
Love you,
Amy
Dear Mom - I love you so much. I am so thankful for you. You are my best friend and have taught me so much, how to be a faithful wife, how to be a loving mommy and most importantly, how to trust in the Lord. I am so thankful for the time that you have had to be a Mimi to Andrew and Joshua. This has been a rough week knowing that Mother's Day was coming, and knowing that this is probably the last year I will get to call you and wish you a Happy Mother's Day and tell you I love you. But I know that in the years to come you will be in paradise, you won't be sick anymore and I will find comfort knowing that I will see you again someday! Thank you for everything you are....I love you!
Dear Beth - thank you so much for this. Six months ago my mom (also a Beth) was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and although she is still living, she is not the same and is getting weaker everyday and I know that unless the Lord heals her, this will be her last Mother's day with us. When I was in high school I can remember her doing your bible studies and I would sit and watch the videos with her and we both just loved watching you and listening to you speak so very much! I am 23 years old and my mom just turned 49, so this was a big devastation to my family. Please know that I am so thankful for you and the encouragement that I get from you and your daughters on this blog!
Happy Mother's day to you!
Praying for so many of you...these letters really touch my heart...especially Sue..girl i hope you read this..don't give up, none of it is too hard for God, feeling your heart...and yes I have been there..love in Christ.
Dear Momma,
I miss you SO much, it hurts. I love you and you are still my best friend. I don't want to go through these struggles without your advice. I hate stumbling around and not being able to talk to you. I need your parenting advice. The only thing that keeps me going is the simple fact that one day, we will be together again. I know you are singing like the angels right now, and I know you are holding all the babies. Momma, I miss you and I love you. Mother's Day isn't the same without you. ilyb (K)
Hugs,
Melinda
Dear Mama,
Although I was 16 when you died and am now 55 I still feel like your little scared girl today as I sit to write this. I always knew you were the godliest woman I had ever met but I never fully appreciated that until after you were gone. I'm sorry that I was so self-centered as a teenager. I'm sorry I was not a better care giver in the days before your death. I'm sorry that the last time I saw you in the hospital you had no idea who I was because of your illness. But I'm so glad I had YOU for my Mama! You weren't there when I got married but the influence from your godly marriage to daddy was. You weren't there when I had my kids but the memory of your mothering skills were. You weren't there when I was saved at the age of 25, but your prayers down through the years were. You are my hero. I can't wait to see you in heaven and thank you for all you did for me. I love you Mama.
Dear Mom,
I know your life is not what you would have wanted it to be. I wish I would have been just a little older when the mental illness started to destroy your mind so that I could have known the "real you" better.
I am so grateful that God sealed and protected your faith so that it has remained steadfast, unmoved and unharmed despite the mental illness. Much has been taken from you, but God has guarded that which is most important.
Some day you will be whole... "many who are last will be first." You have been last so often, I long for the day when you will be first. Praise God that the wholeness of eternity will far exceed the time of such awful brokenness here on earth.
Dear Mom,
I know growing-up was hard b/c you were sick and I know you have a world of regret. I wish more than anything that you would completely forgive yourself. I could not hold unforgiveness toward you now if I tried. I'm so thankful God has totally restored our relationship. I'm so thankful that you know Him now and are so faithful. I'm so thankful when you call me down about something, that's how it should be! We've always had some good times though and laughed so hard. It was interesting/fun growing-up with such a free-spirit of a mother and such an opposite father. I know I had the best of both worlds. I'm such a mix of both of you. I could say so much, but you already know b/c I say it to you all the time. I love you with all my heart and I would not change one thing about our relationship now.
I'll never forget the times in school when this little runt got picked on and you told me to tell those bullies "I may be a little piece of leather, but I'm well put together." Or the time you dressed me and Tony up as punk-rockers for Halloween (they had just become popular and you were always "up" on that kind of stuff). We went to a party and the kids kept asking what we were and we kept saying "We don't remember, Mom, what are we?" You just laughed. How you taught me to never wear blush, just pinch my cheeks a little. Still do that and I can never go wrong with that color. Oh and one of my favorites, when I felt so accepted. I was only about 6 and I was outside playing on our "muddy hill" in my ballet recital costume and you came outside. Boy, for the first time with you, I thought I was in for it. You just smiled so big and said "Come here" and gave me the biggest hug. You were not a bad Mom. You did the best you could. I choose to remember the good times and there were many. Regardless of your condition at the time, I knew you always loved and accepted me. That did come through. Now, I thank and praise Jesus that my children have such a fun Grandma. Who else will learn the "Hoedown Throwdown"? You are so much dang fun. I'm blessed to have you!!!
Sorry Beth! I tried to make it short. Happy Mama's Day Mama Siesta, can't wait to see you at the memory verse shin-dig!
Happy Mama's Day Siestas!!!!!
Barbara Shrewsbury
Katy, Texas
Dear Mom,
I know you've missed Dad so horribly since he went home. I know you want your physical suffering here to end, and then you could be at home with Dad. But I want to be selfish and ask for a healing and more time with you here. I love you, admire you, respect you. I wish I had shown it more as a young child, but I talk about it often with my young son. Thank you for living the life that was difficult, but made a difference.
Love
Me
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry I interrupted you this morning when I called to wish you Happy Mother's Day. I thought you were going to passively make a negative comment. I have been surrendering our lack of relationship knowing how broken you are from your tragic childhood. You raised my sister and I as best as you could...without Christ...a life lived through fear and control. I forgive you and want so desperately for you to let the Lord heal you. I wish we were close and shared a Christ loving relationship.
**Beth, God has "reversed my destiny" through your teachings and studies. Thank you for coming to Portland last month. You ministered a message to me that I will refer to all my days on this earth. Thank you for showing me the blessings of a life lived for Christ.
Carrie
Dear Mom,
Just talked with you a few hours ago. I wish that you would let God heal your heart. You are such an amazing and gifted woman. I am sorry that bitterness has taken over and wish you would let God mend your broken heart.
We're still hoping someday you'll come and visit us here in Colorado. But even if you never do, we won't give up on you.
Love,
Holly
PS to Siestas: I have written this same letter over the years to her--her heart is very stubborn and hard. Will you pray for Elizabeth?
Dear Mom,
I miss you, plain and simple. This is the second Mom's Day without you. I wonder what you would think of what I am about to do....at my age...giving up my life here in the states to move overseas and do missions! I wish I could talk to you about it, and I know what you would do...you would encourage me and tell me I could do anything I set my mind to. I wish we could sit down over a cup of coffee like the old days and just visit. I love you so and my heart just longs for you. I cannot wait for the day when I see your smile again, feel your hug, and the squeeze of your hand. I'll always love you.
Dear Mom,
I love you and wish so much we could have a close relationship. It's so much better than it ever was and I'm grateful for that but I still long to have you tell me that you love me and you're proud of me. I've just wanted so badly to feel like I'm part of your life and have you be part of my life. We don't have that close bond and yet I'm not sure you have it with anyone. Did something happen in your past to make you so distant? I wish I knew and I wish I could help you love and accept love from others. Everyone is not out to make your life miserable. Even my son, your own grandson, says he has holiday grandparents. At twenty something years of age he realizes he was never the apple of his grandmother's eye. I pray God will heal whatever has caused you pain so that He can make our relationship what He wants it to be. I do love you. And I am thankful to have you alive and well on Mother's Day when so many people don't have that. God loves you and wants you to enjoy life and not be so fearful.
Your Daughter
Dear Mom,
I am so blessed to have you as a mom. You excel at so many things and there are many times I feel that I will never be able to measure up. But that pressure has never really come from you. You have been good at making me feel appreciated for who I am. One of the things I love the most about you is your consistency. I can't imagine feeling more secure as a child. I cannot ever express adequately my deep gratitude for teaching me to love Jesus. Thank you for making Him the cornerstone of our home. I love you.
And Mama Siesta, I just want to thank you for being a spiritual mother to me and so many others. Thank you again for taking time for my daughter and I after the service in Lancaster on Thursday! You are beyond precious to me and I can't wait to spend eternity worshipping and learning with you at the feet of our Savior!
Mom,
Thank-you for loving me and taking care of me all those growing up years. Ours has been a good but sometimes difficult relationship but I am thankful for you. You taught me much about persevering and not giving up even when your life looked like all it had was lemons. Even though you are still with me, that dreaded disease, alzheimers is working its destruction, and it is so very hard to watch it slowly strip you away. But with God's strength we will walk this path together, because you never gave up on me and I will not give up on you.
I love you!
Dear Mama,
How I miss your sweet face and your so familiar voice. It has been 11 long years since God called you home. I wanted to say I am so sorry you had to suffer most of your life with a failing heart but please know that your spiritual heart was the size of Texas. I learned so much watching your relationship with God grow in spite of so much suffering. You are a mother that I so long to be like. The greatest thing I could ever hear would be for someone to tell me "you are just like your mother." That would be an honor. Of all the moms on earth God knew you were the one for me and always will be. Well Mom, He has not left me alone. I have some 'moms' who look out for me and help me in so many ways. I am so grateful for them but you are my mother. Much love from your little girl of 50 years. Penny
Dear Mom,
I am so glad that you are still on earth today. These past couple of months there were many times I thought that you wouldn't be. I want you to know that I love and appreciate you. I know I haven't always been easy to understand but because of you, I am a better person. Thanks for fighting so hard to stay. I love you. Love, Kels
Dear Mom,
Thank you for all you did for me by putting Jesus into my heart at an early age. I went all the wrong ways I could, and broke your heart many times. Since I came back to our Jesus I now see what you wanted me to see then. A pure love and caring God who satisfy all my needs and desires. And I have served him for the last 12 years with open heart and mind. I know you look down and see a complete women who loves her Lord. I miss you everyday but know we will see each other again and we will be able to worship our Lord together.
Thanks Rebecca
Dear Mama,
I am so thankful to you for taking me to Church. I never said I did not want to go because you instilled in me that no matter what I had to go to Church. Thank you for that. Thank you for your Christian example. There were times when I rebelled and you thought I wasn't listening but I was. I am a blessed woman today because of you. I look forward to seeing you right after I see JESUS first. I love you and miss you so much my angel. Kathie
Dear Mom-Our relationship has always been one that was difficult. All of my life I have tried so very hard to catch your attention, to be loved like my siblings, for you to just say "I am so proud of you" ....your patients talk about how kind and caring you are, as do my siblings...I never felt as if I was "enough" for you to love me.
Now, I realize that you could not give to me what I needed...for whatever reason, you were simply not able. I forgive you. All of those hurts, He has healed. All of those tears-He caught them. He understands. I am whole. I am loved. And Mom...I do love you, and I will continue to work to make our relationship one that is productive and healthy.
Dear Beth- I wanted to thank you-God has used you to show me not only what an authentic relationship with Jesus can look like, but what an authentic relationship with your children looks like. I was able to meet you once, and am sure I sounded like a bumbling idiot...but I believe He blessed me by getting to meet you...because I got to see with my own eyes someone who was "The Real Deal"-no pretention, no fakeness...just a woman with a fiery passion for the Lord who loves and is loved deeply by all who know her. Thank you-He has used you to teach, inspire and encourage me on my walk with Him.
Dear Momma ,
I miss you. How I'd love to be able to hear your voice again , even if just to say my name. How comforting that would be to me right now. I hope you are literally WITH Jesus right now and are enjoying heaven , whatever that is like. I know you must have already told Jesus what I need help with , because you're my momma. ; )
Momma , you will never know the regrets I've had. How many times I wished I'd paid more attention to your hardships in life, especially in the last decade of your life. Momma I'm hurting in many of the same ways. My husband left me too . I'm going to have to start all over again , just like you did , with very little. Please forgive me that I wasn't there for you more. Every single day , I think of you more and more and now I understand . Too late. I hope Jesus is telling you that I'm sorry and that my heart grieves for not being there for you.
Thank you for taking us to church momma. I'm sorry you never got to meet my son , and he , you. You both would have loved each other. I'm sorry you didn't know my daughter better. You would be so proud of both of my kids momma. And maybe me ?
I miss you and wish you were here to tell me everything is going to be alright. I'm alone. Just like you were.
You did the best you could and I know that now. I know daddy didn't help you much and that you were the parent to both of us. We appreciate it. You mattered a lot. You were way more talented than you ever gave yourself credit for. You did the best you could with the hand you were dealt.
Its sweet that you got your last wish of dying in your sleep. I'm glad God honored that prayer.
I'm sorry you had to suffer so much in life. But thats now over. But you will never be forgotten. One day I'll join you . And you'll get to meet your grandson one day too. Save a place for me next to you , will you momma ? I miss you . I really miss you.
Love ,
Your favorite daughter
hehe Muah. I hope you're enjoying your own family there. Love you momma.
And thank you Beth. Happy Mother's day to you. <3
Mom,
I love you so very much and I desire with all my heart to wish your Happy Mother's Day from my heart to yours up in Heaven. It's been 6 years and I miss you like I never expected. We will become best of friends, I KNOW, when I get there. I'm so thankful for the things you taught me and the love that you were able to give me. I'm thankful for giving me life and that I, in return, was able to give YOU LIFE through Jesus. Love Ya! Yolanda
http://yolanda-highergrounds.blogspot.com/2008/05/mothers-day-2008.html
Dear Mom,
I still treasure the letters you wrote to me. They still bless me. I was so young when you died, but old enough to be a grown woman. We so had nothing in common, except Jesus. We were proof that He is enough to build a relationship on! The trans formative work He did in those years you were on the vent must be a scandal! It's been almost 15 years, and I still miss you.
You would have been just wild about John and the kids. What a great MIL and Granny you would have been. I know I will see you again and that you will meet my babies. I know you get to share Heaven with the son you saw go home and my babies, I never got to meet.
Thank you for the privilege of being your daughter and nurse. He really got us through those years and we did it together with Him. Not bad, not bad at all dearest Mom.
You were my original bible teacher!
I love you, I miss you and I'll see you in just a little while.
As you use to say in your letters to me,
Love your sister-in-Christ,
Maryellen
PS thanks Miss Beth, I needed that today.
Dear Mom, I know there wasn't a lot of physical love when you were raising your 7 daughters, but I know now that you did the best you could. You worked hard from sun up to sun down. Things weren't always easy and their wasn't always a lot of money, but now I am grown and a mother myself, and our relationship is amazing. I am the envy of some of my friends. I am proud of all you have done and look forward to our next visit.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for being such an amazing single mother of five. You laid down your life and sacrified every fiber of your being to give us everything. I can't wait for you to know the Father the way that He wants to know you. One day soon, we will worship with hands lifted high to heaven and serve him arm in arm.
You are constantly in my prayers and I love you dearly.
Always,
Your Melissa
Dear Mom~
I don't think you understand how much you mean to me. I know you have guilt for things that happened in the past, for not being able to protect me from hurt. But, I do not hold those things against you, I never have. I have seen you battle to overcome huge strongholds for my sake, I've seen you be broken and give yourself over to God. I hold you in the highest place of respect because of that willingness. I never one time doubted your love for me, you made sure that I knew you were there, even when you couldn't be physically. I see how much you love God, how much a person can be changed by a living God. I hope to pass those things on to my children now. You are amazing, and I would not trade you for any other mother in all of the world! I love you so much, and I have utmost respect for the woman you are. I pray that one day my own children will look at me the way that I do you!
I Love You, Mom!
W.O.W.
spells M.O.M. upside down!
So many emotions, tears, memories come from the word MOM.
Glad this post is only for one day a year - have cried buckets and ran out of kleenex.
Praying for all the siestas.
Blessings and hugs,
Denise
Dear Mom,
I wish I could say "Now I understand"... all the times you corrected or disciplined, why you worried, why you were frustrated. I wish our relationship hadn't felt so strained and we could have been closer, talked more. I really wish you could have met your grand daughters! They are beautiful and you would have had a blast. I don't know if you understood me that last day when I told you I was pregnant, but I hope so. I love you and miss you very much
To my dear Mom,
I love you so much! Thank you for the heritage of faith you have given me. Thank for making me laugh, for listening, for crying, for speaking powerfully into my life, for seeing and understanding me - unbelievably well. The Lord knows, I continually beg Him for more time with you - I want you to see my husband and babies.... I pray and pray He allows you to be here when He brings me the One I have been waiting and praying for for so long. - thank you for loving me and everyone so much and so well. I love serving you and loving you. You showed me how....
I love you so much,
Tammie
Dear Mama,
It has been 13 years since you have gone to be with Lord. I love you and I miss you.Thank you so much for instilling in me at an early age the importance of having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ...He has made the difference in this journey of life. Thank you for being a stay at home mom...I appreciate the sacrifice that you made for us. Even though we had very little financially, you wanted us to be grounded and be the best we could be. I appreciate your desire for me to play the piano.After years and years of begging,both me and my instructor were overwhelmed with joy when you and dad told me I could pursue other activities!I didn't like it...but I appreciate it... now!Sorry mom,it was all about the ball for me!But out of it came such a Love for praise and worship...so thank you...it was well worth it. And during the college years...the care packages you sent me were simply the best!!!
Thanks for being my mom.
Much love,
Hey Mama,
I'm so thankful to have you in my life. You are the most perfect mother that could have been chosen for me. I love you even though I know that that phrase makes you uncomfortable. My prayer is that someday you may experience the love that our heavenly Father has for us, and that this encounter would remove the hurt and bitterness that prevails in your heart and prevents you from receiving the love that people offer you. Until that time though I'll just continue greeting you with "hey mama" and understand that when you repeat that phrase back you mean that you love me too.
Love,
Me
I remember how little you seemed to like yourself when I was small, before school, when my entire days were at home with you. How tiredyou were and how unhappy you seemed. I tried to tell you how pretty you were one time. I really did mean it, too. You were the most lovely person in the world to me. Once I was in the basement with the TV and my toys and you were on the couch upstairs with all your books. I sat on the bottom stair wishing you would come down to be with me. My heart was all yours up until a certain point. But then I turned into a self conscious teenager and only felt ugly around you and lost my voice around you. I still wish I could find it to tell you how dear you are to me. We haven't been close since I was little, if we ever were, so it's sort of illogical that I would still love you so much. No one can take your place. There's just been an emptiness most of my life that seems so permanent. I just long for you, it embarasses me.
This Dear Mom letter is a little different but shows how a loving God can work in a broken little girl's life to make "all things work together for good". If you don't think it's appropriate - please feel free to delete it.
Dear Mom,
I am so sorry I don't have many good memories of our mother/daughter relationship. Unfortunately, most of my memories of our relationship are very hard and very sad. I remember a mom that was always emotionally distraught. I don't ever remember any milk and cookies or hugs and kisses when I came home from school. I do remember being completely afraid to invite any friends over to our house because of the few times I did get brave enough to do this - you would totally embarrass me with your behavior. I remember having to wake you up to take me to school. The day I tried out for cheerleader and didn't make it - you critized me and said it was because I wasn't good enough. As a became a teenager and started dating - I would always try to double-date with a friend just so our dates could pick us both up at her house. When I got married I was so afraid of any scenes you may throw at my wedding and didn't want to invite you - but I did.
But when Jesus Christ became Lord of my life at age 19, God started to show me that it really wasn't you - but mental illness that had tormented your mind all those years. No one ever talked about mental illness back then and I had never heard the words schizophrenia or depression or understood what they meant. Learning to love you in spite of all the things I now knew was hard. I knew God told me to "honor" you but I had all those heartache memories filling my head and honestly, there was no relationship that had ever developed. But God did give me love. Not the love that most daughters and mothers experience but a "understanding it all" kind of love and compassion.
But the most amazing thing that God did was put an urgency in my heart to be the very best mother in the world. I wanted my children to have everything that I had never experienced as a child (and I don't mean material things) Of course, many times I failed, but I was determined to make sure our home was a safe-haven for you. A place where you always felt loved, welcomed, cherished, and encouraged. A place you could bring your friends and not be embarrassed. A place where you not only heard about the love of Jesus - but also experienced this love. Now you are all grown and married and have blessed us with 8 beautiful grandchildren that are just "the icing"! I know we have the relationship that I never experienced and I give all honor and glory to Jesus Christ - the One that allowed me to become a "new creation" and break the chains of our forefathers (or foremothers!). Thank you Jesus for your unfailing love. Without you - I would have nothing!
Mammy (to 8 sweet babies!!) and Mom to 3 children that have 3 beautiful spouses and wife of my Godly man for 37 yrs!! Praise His Name!
Dear Mom,
Bittersweet is how I would describe the day we had to say good-bye, because it was also the day you accepted Jesus. My favorite memories of you are when your eyes would well with tears as you described what joy it was for you to see your baby girl for the first time & how we would sit under the stars in the sumertime listening to the whiperwhills sing. I know you have found such sweet love in our Saviour's arms and I know the sweet assurace He's taking good care of your baby girl until the day He too brings me home. I love you and miss you more than I can say.
Dear Mom,
You never knew, while you were on this earth, that God taught me a power lesson through our relationship. I know you know about it now!! For years I wanted you to be the mother I thought you should be, not the one you were! After whining to God forever about it, I remember God speaking to me, one of the first times, and said, "Your mother may never change, but you can." It was a 'stand up and pay attention' moment in my life! After leaving AK, God gave us those 6 precious years to watch that happened AND we both changed. Amazing how that process works! Have fun today dancing with Jesus! Love, Mare
Dear Mom,
You showed me grace and love like I have never known from another human, the day after you passed away. When I cleaning out your drawers for dad, and found the journals I kept documenting things that should have never been written down, I cried like I've never cried before. Thank goodness for Chris ( a girl cousin), who reminded me of the grace that showed, and the grace of God that you still loved me anyway and so did He. I can't wait to see you again with Jesus. I'm thankful for those prayers you prayed for me to get to be a mom one day too. You would love your grandchildren dearly...twins...who would have ever thought!! Was that your special request?? Thanks for persevering prayers for us. God is still working on us.
I love you,
Stephanie
Dear Ma,
Oh my, what can I say...for so many years I tried to say I was nothing like you. You are bold, and brave, and Truth seems to come to you so much easier than it does to me. When kids would pick on me in grade school, YOU were the one who would go outside and come up with the zippy one-liners that I wished I'd had in me. When I was sick, you were the best nurturer any girl could ever ask for (remember the bell you gave me one time to ring whenever I wanted anything? Now THAT'S service!). You're the only person I can make laugh at the drop of a hat. You've been the absolute best example of what it means to be a servant. Your love is matchless, and your Joy contagious. You are the epitome of what women hope to be. You are perfect in every way, and I love you so much more than you can ever imagine.
Love,
Your Sweet Girl
Dear Mom,
How I wish I could write to you and you would love me and be proud of me for me. I wish I was what you wanted me to be but I am just me. I know that God has called me to be who I am adn I will follow Him. I have cried many tears over your not seeing me as me. One day the tears will be wiped clean and in heaven you will see all God has done in me and through me. I love you.
M
Dear Mama,
I have 2 grown sons but still find this day sad, and it is because of you. Your divorce when I was five drove you to alcohol and away from your responsibilities as a mom. Life was very difficult for me after that. I tracked you down when I was 21 to share my new found faith in Jesus. I had not seen you in 9 years. You never made a commitment to God then, and you never verbalized accepting Christ a few years later when you lay dying from cirrhosis. Only God knows if I will see you again in heaven. I pray that I do.... and that we can finally have the relationship that I have always wanted to have with my Mama. I love you Mama, and am sad for the years that the locusts have taken. But I know that God can restore those years.
Your daughter always,
Linda
Dear Mom,
It has been nearly 20 years and I still miss you, especially on Mother's Day. I was sharing with Dan & Claire today on the way to brunch after church how you're favorite event on this day was to go to McDonald's for breakfast. I wish you could have been here to celebrate with your grandkids. They are all so special. Thank you for all you did for me. I never truly appreciated it until I had my own kids. I know you are with "Mama Beth's" mother celebrating being Home with our Lord and sharing in your breast cancer journeys. I love you always,
Mary Ann (from Woodbury, MN)
Dear Mom,
This is the first Mother's Day I've had without you since you went home on Christmas Day. It seems so strange not to call you and wish you happy Mother's Day. I didn't realize how this would impact me. I know you're not hurting any more and you're finally able to take deep breaths of heavenly air. I miss you and love you.
Wow....This is way hard for me. I still have my mom, and I truly am thankful for her...She loves Jesus, me, and my family...and yet, all my life, I've had to hold her up, support her, encourage her...her mother abandoned her when she was a toddler. Her father and her precious step-mother raised her, and yet all her life she just wanted to hear her mom say "I love you". Over the years, that desire turned into anxiety, depression, headaches, insecurities, trying to constantly please us and my dad, fears, worries....
Brass tacks, I can't go to my mom for anything, because she will literally fall apart, and everything that happens becomes "all about her." I am 51 years old and still looking for a mom who will just hold me, love me, and be strong for me....and not fall apart. If I could just be a kid once in a while and not the grown up. I've raised two beautiful daughters, and worked so hard to be the kind of mom I needed when I was their age. Basically, I realize that my mother is never going to change. I've quit hoping for her that and know she will never truly be happy until she sees Jesus. I do love her, and will feel guilty for writing all of this. But it's just fact. I'm constantly looking for a spiritual mom who will be "strong" for me.
Thanks Beth.......I love you.
Dear Mom,
I want so badly for you to find who you are for you and not who you should be to anyone else. I want you to know who you are to Christ and that is all that matters. He alone needs to be your sole source of strength and guidance and no one else can be that for you. I want you to seek Him with all your heart and know how much He loves you. It is only through Him that we can love anyone else. I pray that I can love Him more so that I can pour more in to my children and family. Thank you Beth, for being the spiritual mother I never had. I pray that I can be there more for my children in a way that lead's them to a relationship with Christ. Many blessings this Mother's Day!
Dear mom...
You are only 2 hours away but we aren't all that close. We are but we aren't. I wish we could have more real conversations. I wish we could just talk the reality of faith, family and life. It's just not gonna happen though. I wish so many things mom. I do love you dearly....even though you and dad are the two most stubburn people on planet earth. Thank you for loving me despite the living hell I put you and dad through for so many years. I know I put all that grey hair on your head. ;)
Happy Mothers Day. You have really taught me so much. We are all messed up people and you always say "it could be worse." I just wish it could be a little better.
Dear Mom,
You have been a tower of strength and the pillar of our home. It's difficult to watch you suffering now. A time of life when I wish you could just relax and enjoy the blessings of family and friends, yet you are burdened with the incredible weight of countless decisions and unfathomable heartache. Completely broken you sit and watch the love of your life for 65 years become a stranger in many ways. I can't begin to imagine the loss as a wife. I only know it as a daughter. Our relationship hasn't been perfect. We have our differences and we don't always agree. You are an eternal optimist, refusing to see any negative and believing always in the good of everyone. Extremely sensitive, your responses have at times received rolled eyes and judgement from this daughter. You go to great lengths to please others and long for everything to always appear right and well. Your home is immaculate. Your clothing pressed. Your dinner always prepared. Your floors cleaned. Your windows washed. Your perfume on. Mom, today I rise up and call you blessed, as I am blessed by having the delight and honour of being your daughter. I wish right now I could remove all the pain, loneliness, decisions, misery and distress. I am doing what I can, but it feels like so little as I watch your head bow, your body shake and tears flow. Today Mom, I am praying for you. May the Lord tenderly hold you. May you feel His arms surround you. May your heaviness lift. May your helplessness be replaced with great courage. May the clouds of darkness dissipate. May His peace, that passes understanding, reign and be a reality in your heart. May your fear and insecurity vanish. May His love carry you...just for today...and then all your tomorrow's. I love you mom.
Dear Mom,
I woke up this morning with a phone call from Dad -- at 7:15am. He forgot the time difference. :-) He wanted to wish me a "Happy Mothers Day" because I too, am a mom. He told me that he had been out to visit with you twice - once to talk and once to put some nice flowers on your grave. This is our first Mother's Day without you and we miss you so much!!!! I am at peace knowing that you are home with our Lord -- but, mom, I miss you so much!
Thank you for being there for me in the good times and bad. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank your for being a wonderful grandma to my 2 sons -- who miss you so much!!
I love and miss you mom!
Beth - thank you for letting us comment on your blog! I lost my mom on January 25 at the age of 59. I wasn't sure how I would make it through this day, but thanks to my wonderful husband and sons (5&7) I had an awesome day!!! I love their handmade gifts...too cute!!! Happy Mother's Day!
I wrote mine as anonymous because of the pain, Beth. Thank you for letting us get this out. Thank you that Jesus is alive and active until the very end. Thank you for giving me a place to be encouraged and loved on no matter what.
Happy Mothers Day to my spiritual momma in the faith. I send you big hugs.
Fran
TN
Hi mom,
Jesus loves you and so do I. Please know there is no judgment and no fear of rejection, just come and sit with me and let me tell you about who Jesus is and how much He loves you. I want you with me forever...you're my hero. You're my girls favorite love here on earth. Please come and taste and see that the Lord is good. I will walk with you. I will hold your hand. I won't leave until you feel safe.
You are worth so much more than this world has to offer! Praying for you, always.
Hugs a bunch,
Me
Dear Mom,
Since you stuggle with alzheimers your words and thoughts are at times not clear. But I knew today when you told me I was a good ol' girl I knew what you were saying to me. I love you too Mom!
I look at this white square and I wonder what it is I would say to you. I guess I don't understand and I wonder why. I don't understand why you thought your girls were so ugly and told all your family that you didn't know how you could have such ugly girls. Why couldn't your mother's heart see our beauty? I don't understand why you never told me how my body would change as a teenager and why you never helped me by giving me the necessaries. Why you, through your thoughtlessness, allowed me to be the ridicule of my classmates as I walked around with blood on my clothes and in chairs I had just vacated. Why you turned your head when you saw my clothes. Why you let others treat me cruelly and never stood up for me against the world. You were never on my side. I always had to stand up against the world and protect myself from you as you laughed behind your hand at my mistakes. I don't understand why you turned your face when my dad used me in ways that he should've only shared with a wife. You knew it was going on and when asked about it years later you said "at least he wasn't after me". Why you weren't there for me when I needed you...after being raped. Why you made sure I understood after leaving home that I was never to ask for help. Not that I would've. I knew long before you said it that you wouldn't. I thought I would understand some of those things when I became an adult and mother but I don't. They are still a mystery to me. I can not even ask you face to face because you'll deny it. Even to this day you don't love me. You don't love my children. What makes a grandmother not love her grandchildren? They are wonderful boys with big and loving hearts. It makes me happy to see that they are happy in their childhood. It brings me joy when they hug me and tell me they love me. It brings me joy to hug and love on my boys. I wish mom...I wish...
i honestly thougth 7 years would heal the hurt of loosing you but so much has happened and is happening mom. I wonder so often do you get to see it? I miss you, your gentle guidance and ever present love! I hope you have a huge plate of chocolate chip cookies waiting for me when i get home. I love you!
Dear Mom,
Thank you for the gift of life and for naming me after you. I miss you so much. It has been six long years since you left us. Thank you for loving me the only way you knew how to. I had such an outrageous JOY in my heart when I came to know Jesus, I so wanted to share it with you. I wanted you to know the assurance we all can have in Christ. I felt like you rejected me and it hurt me deeply. I want you to know that I forgive you and I wish that I could tell you that to your face. If by some chance you are in heaven with Jesus, that is the prayer of my heart for you, for I do not know your heart....
I thank the LORD he has brought salvation to me through the testimony of my 2 wonderful sons. I pray that with the years I have left here on this earth I can be to them everything a godly mother is. God has made a blessed thing out of my life and I will live every day praising Him and thanking Him for the unconditional love and compassion He has had on me and my wonderful family. Love you so much Mom. My heart aches for your eternal soul.
Debbie June
Thank you Beth for this opportunity to write to our mother's. I have been so confused sinced my mother died I haven't known how to put it into words. Thank you for being my Spiritual Mother and my Bible Lady..you bring refreshing to my soul. Thank you for the love you have, and show to Amanda and Melissa. Your passion for the Lord and for your family live in all of us who have been touched by your life, thank you for your godly example of motherhood.
Hi Momma,
I miss you today. I miss you everyday. I miss your smile; no one has a smile like yours. And, Momma thank you for this poem you sent my by the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how I could bear this temporary separation without it. And be looking for my balloon. I’m sending one up again today to say hello and I love you.
Under The Blood
I worried when you first for Heaven departed;
Because my words to you were not always kind-hearted.
And as memories attacked my mind, my chest joined in
And heaved and heaved – It was so very hard to breathe.
What? What did you say with that voice so familiar, gentle
and kind? It’s UNDER THE BLOOD my Little One came the reply.
All those coulda, woulda, shoulda HE, our Saviour, has washed away.
All is well, I love you too. So stop your fretting, this isn’t about me, nor You.
Yet I must say, I am enjoying this Eternity, and I want you to love Jesus even more dearly.
You know that here, a thousand years are as a day.
So I’ll see you in a moment -- now put away all your dismay.
All is UNDER THE BLOOD and that my Little One is where it will stay –
Forever, and ever says our Loving Father, Yahweh.
Thanks, Beth.
I love you my Sister and Bible Lady!
Kathie Thompson
Dear Mom,
I love you so much and I wish I could express to you how much I need you. Since Annabella blessed our lives this past year, I have needed you more than ever. And you have been trapped in depression and cancer, with me not being the best daughter I could be to you. Oh how I pray that the Mom I knew would return. But if she doesn't, I know the Lord will give me strength to be the best daughter to you I can be. Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for being there for me when I needed you. Please know that even though I am a mom now too, I need you still. THe Lord will restore your joy. He is faithful.
All my love,
Brandy
Dear Mom,
We almost lost you last year. It was probably the best thing that has ever happened to us. This sounds crazy but it forced me to ask you if you had accepted Christ as your Savior. We all thought you would not make it through the surgery so it was too important not to ask. Your answer was a resounding YES! What Peace we all felt. Who knew that the heart surgery would produce more than we expected. The Lord knew better and we now have a mother with a changed heart. A mother who now tells us she loves us before she hangs up the phone. A mother who now has a tender heart and cries. Something she said she hadn't done in years. I love you mom and thank God for you every day. Happy Mother's Day! Love, Lori
I saw my mom today....was able to tell her and show her appreciation!
Your blog never ceases to amaze me...today as I sit reading these posts, I am taken aback....by the variety of words, feelings, thoughts and expressions of emotion. Sometimes our "rose-colored glasses" paint a picture that is not necessarily accurate to the raw human experience.
Today I appreciate my mom all the more, but I also appreciate God's unbelievable love that surpasses all understanding...to take some of these stories and make victors out of true heroines....now that is some amazing work on the part of our awesome God!!
Thanks for a post that revealed much more than I could have imagined! Who knew Mother's Day would make us think past the day.....well, we are talking about LPM's blog (aka, Beth Moore's post for the day)!
Dear Mama, I wish you had not left us at such an early age. I just had my 5th grandchild and wish you were around to meet them. I put all that I can into being the best NANA I can be. My family are my treasure on this earth and I pray that they will all meet you one day in heaven. I was only 17 when you committed suicide, but I know that we will have eternity to spend together in heaven. I Love You Mama
Dear Mom,
Now that I have teenagers, I understand a WHOLE lot more of what you went through with me. Wow. Thank you for not giving up on me!
Love you!
-Your little girl
Dear Mother(my mom) and Mom(mother-in-law),
You are both gone now but I miss you both terribly. Mother, you left us so young, I was only 27 but at least you got to see your grandkids! Thank you for your love and support! Mom, you have only been gone one year and you were always so good to me and your advice was always well taken. I love you both so much and I'm looking forward to seeing you both when I get to heaven!
Dear Grandma,
I know this is supposed to be to our moms but for some reason your face is all I have been able to see today. I wish I could see it again here on earth but I know that I will be able to see you and kiss you again one day in heaven. Thank you for being such an inspiration for so many years. Your kindness, generosity, and unwavering faith are lessons I desperately hope to be able to pass on to my own children. How I wish you could see them - Emily is a little "Emerald" in miniature, and I have more than once found myself in tears wishing you could have really known her before you left us. But I believe that you are looking down on us and smiling. I know that I will miss you every day for the rest of my life but I believe we will be together again one day. Until then, I hope you know how much I loved you and how much you meant to me. I love you,
Laura
Dear Mama,
You're here but you're not. It's hard to believe that in the 2 1/2 years since you were diagnosed with Dementia Related Illness at such a young age, so much has changed. Yet so little has changed as well. Though you struggle with finding the words to express your thoughts, your look says it all. And you never forget to tell me "I love you." Those words flow from your tongue so smoothly just like they always have. This morning as you stood beside me in church, unable to keep up with reading the words from the hymn book and not remembering some of the old familiar songs we sang, you still sang. Though you fumbled your way through the lyrics, you sang. And when my heart wanted to break over this, Jesus sent me such a blessing in assuring me that HE understood everything you were singing for you were singing to Him from the depths of your heart. Oh, how I pray that as your memory fails you, you will never forget Him. That He will be your joy and your passion in these days as He always has been. I hold to His promise "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (Isaiah 46:4). His love is timeless and He loves you so. And although I miss the "old" you, I still love you so very much. You are my first and best friend on this earth. You taught me how to love and I will love you and honor you all the days of your life.
Always,
Gwen
Dear Mom,
You are a quiet, little one. :) You never say much, and you would rather ANYBODY else have the spot light except you. You are one of the most selfless and giving people that I know. I don't think I've ever told you that. You have such a servants heart and never turned anyone away from our home when I was growing up (even our sweet Avon lady who walked to all her houses-in the blazing summer-and never showered. grin.) You and dad did a good job raising two kids when you both had fish bowl jobs at the church. It's a wonder anybody liked us cause they all knew our business. I'm loud, so people always think I'm like dad, but I think I'm more like you. I'd rather people watch too, than be one of the people that we are watching. Thanks for letting me listen to God for myself, and for trusting me (and Him) when I knew He had called me to live 6 hours from home the day I graduated. You see the good in everybody and never judge a book by it's cover. Even the cracked and dusty ones. I get many things from you, but among my favorites are my big feet, brown eyes, and insane love for coffee. You and dad are the most generous people I know, and you give me way too much. Thanks for always being available for me to talk to...even when I wouldn't. You're my favorite.
I love you
[Ps...thanks for the new christmas ornaments so I can have my very own tree next year. :) ]
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Dear Mom,
Thank you for our most precious relationship. Your love for family is a treasure that you have passed to us all. Your selflessness and servant's nature is truly a gift. You have poured out unconditional love on me all of my life, and I have never doubted your love for me. Thank you for taking us to church every Sunday, for making sure we were close to our grandparents, and for loving our dad (now for 43 years). You gave us so many opportunities and made sure we had the best of times (and you are one awesome cook!). You are the best Nana in the world, and Meg & Ev think you hung the moon. We all love you so much!!!
Melissa
Dear Grandma,
Although it has been 8 years since you went to heaven, there isn't a day go by that your imprint on my life isn't felt. You were a mom to me in every emotional sense. God knew that we needed each other in so many mom/daughter ways. Thank you for being a Christian inspiration to me. My faith is stronger because of watching you walk in faith in the Lord.
Dearest Mommy,
There are few words to express just how crazy I am about you. This year I am especially thankful for the words of truth that you have spoken to me and INTO me! I remember several conversations (middle/high school years) where I know that I rolled my eyes and acted like I didn't care, but I was listening. I heard those words, all that scripture and the love that you poured out. It stuck mom, it stuck. I pray that I will do the same for my girls.
Thank you for not giving up on me...
I love you and thank God for picking me to be your oldest daughter...
stephanie
Dear Mom and "MeMe",
Twenty years have past since I have held your sweet hand and heard your comforting voice. I know without a shadow of a doubt, you are cancer-free and are rejoicing with Aunt Dessa, who arrived alongside you and Daddy and our loved ones a few weeks ago.Your grandchildren remember your special love and care for them. Looking back at my childhood days, I want to thank you for the sacrifices you made for me. You inspired my life more than you could ever know. My most precious memory is that you taught me early to seek the Lord,to read His Word and pray without ceasing. I have your Bible and I cherish all of the notes that you had made. You were a woman of noble character. On the flip side, I miss the shopping trips with Lauren and Jonathan,your turkey and dressing,and your makeup pointers and most of all, the long conversations with the best brewed cup of coffee ever! Starbucks could not even come close!
I love you!
Suzi
Dear Mom,
How I wish I had known that you loved me in your own way. I do so much appreciate your daily prayers for me and for my children. Thank you for developing such a special relationship with my girl. She loves you so much and knows that you love her. Thank you for leading me to know Jesus as my Savior, what a tremendous gift!! What a wonderful testimony your life has been.
Dear Mama,
I do love you and that is important for you to know. I have never felt like you loved me. I missed all your hugs and all your attention while I was little and even until I was married. I wish you had taken the time to read me just one book. Then I think you missed me and wished you had the time back.(I know I did.) I finally realized that you didnt have time to hold me or talk to me because you were trying to keep a roof over my head and food in my mouth and clothes on my back. I was hungry for you and you gave me what you really thought I needed. And you did it alone. All 5 of us - you provided for alone. I was a brat! You are the strongest woman I know and the most focused woman I know - I do wish I could have known you loved me then - it would have made a differance. I wish that you knew how to tell me I love you and not just show me that you did.( I would never tell my mama this face to face and I probably sound terrible - but God knows my heart and all the stuff all my junk.) Love,
Dear Mom,
I miss you like crazy. It's been three years and still my heart aches to see and feel you in the flesh. It was hard Mom. We both were very stubborn. I so much wanted you to be proud of me. I realize now that you were it was just hard for you to tell me. I look back and see little things that tell me otherwise. Life was hard for you. So much pain and I am sorry that you didn't get help to work through the pain. Jesus was there waiting, I wish I knew then what I know now. That his saving power also has transforming power....I am so sorry. I love you. You passed on to me so many wonderful qualities and some.... well not so good but Jesus has transformed those as well. It's good for you to know that. There will be day when we will be able to finally rest in Him together. Daddy's doing fine...he misses you just like all of us. This beautiful family you poured your heart and soul into.
I blame you for nothing and forgive you for everything.
Your loving daughter,
Theresa
Dear Mom...
I look at a picture of you and I remember:
*The joy you had doing something you love.
*Your passion for whatever project you were working on.
*Your dedication to do what you felt was right.
*Your compassion for the poor and hurting.
*Your steadfastness to your beliefs.
*Your desire to do something grand in life.
*Your honesty, even when it hurt.
*Your determination to stand for the truth.
I used to think we were so different.
Opposites in many ways.
But as I read this description of you,
I see that we really are so much alike.
You gave me such a wonderful foundation for life. Joy, passion, dedication, compassion, steadfastness, honesty, determination…
What a beautiful legacy you imparted to me.
Thank you, Mom
You are remembered
with a heart full of love.
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