CleansingThose who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
- Psalm 126:5-6
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
- Psalm 126:5-6
...for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Nehemiah 8:10
Today our family is celebrating Mother's Day and First Born's 30th birthday.
What thoughts go through my heart on this special day?
I woke up this morning with sense of joy. Yes, even in the midst of uncertainties, joy is the faithful companion that has helped keep my heart above water.
At 5 o;clock in the morning, I was watering my plants. Ater five months of very low water pressure in our village, with our faucets remaining dry for the most part of the day, the water supply is finally back!
Watering my garden has such a cleansing effect on my heart.
An untended garden is a sign of an untended heart.
My dad used to tell me that. And somehow I have not forgotten it.
The sun had not yet risen at 5 a.m., but already Samantha, my dachshund-Basset hound mix breed faithful eight-year old dog, was out in the garden with me, keeping me company. She would stretch herself on a low portion of the wall, and lay her head on the iron grills, her eyes focused on me.
I was thinking of joy...and at the same time I was thinking of what takes place before joy comes.
Tears and pain and joy... somehow they all go together.
I found myself humming this song that my children and I used to sing when they were small:
I've got peace like a river...
I've got joy like a fountain...
I've got love like an ocean...
Beautiful familiar lines.
But in my heart, I was looking for something more. Not just the peace, or the joy, or the love.
If I'm honest, there's got to be a place for pain, too. And tears.
That somehow made the feeling more complete...and more realistic.
In church today, my friend Ruby was asked to offer a special prayer for the mothers in the congregation. Her prayer moved me to tears.
Her mother's heart has been going through very difficult times these past two weeks. I can't go into details...but we have been praying for her and her husband. We are asking God to intervene in their behalf.
If the past two weeks of her life had been different, she said her prayer would probably be different. I could really identify with what she said.
On mother's day, we read and hear about many glowing accounts about great mothers. But the truth is that being a mother is one of the most important roles in the world, but also one of the most difficult.
A mother's job is often a thankless one. Fortunate is the mother whose children someday realize how much she has done, and stand up to honor her, and thank her!
I am one such mother.
During Worshiper's wedding ceremony last December, he and Chosen One honored their mothers by thanking us for all the things we have done for them.
"Thank you for all the support, for believing in me, for always being there for me, Mama," Worshiper said. He couldn't keep back the tears, the only time during his wedding that he cried.
It was a joyous occasion, but at that point, I had to let my own tears fall as well.
One evening, a few years ago, my first born son came home and found me sitting in the living room, reading a book. He must have been around 24 or 25 years old then. He sat beside me, hugged me, and just out of the blue, told me - "Mama, I just want to thank you for your unconditional love for me." He had tears in his eyes. "You don't know how much your love has brought healing to my heart."
And, my daughter Obedient One, often hugs me and tells me, "I love you gid katama, Mama."
This is an English phrase mixed with a couple of words in the Ilonggo dialect - which means, "I love you very, very, very much, Mom, more than words can express."
Not all mothers are as fortunate. Today, I have a few friends whose hearts are bleeding because of a rebellious son or daughter. A daughter totally consumed with herself, she is blind to the pain of her own mother's heart.
So Ruby's prayer was really beautiful. It was what she called, "a reality prayer." When we are under difficult and painful circumstances, our prayers become more real.
She prayed for strength for mothers, to persevere, to not give up, to focus their eyes on the goal. She prayed for Psalm 91 to be activated and to become operational in our lives. It was quite a touching prayer, especially because I knew just what she was going through.
The message that our pastor Dean Gamboa gave this morning was equally moving. Our church is doing the series entitled "Embracing God," aimed at showing a different aspect of God each week, based on the ten commandments.
Pastor Dean's message on the first commandment is probably the best one I have ever heard on this topic.
The first commandment says:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
- Exodus 20:2
As part of his introduction, he mentioned that we needed to see this commandment in context.
One of the passages he quoted was:
And for their own sake, God wants them to have no other gods aside from Him.
We have seen God's power, how He has saved the Israelites, delivered them from slavery to freedom, from poverty to abundance.
God brings many tests into our lives to purify our hearts, Dean said.
Our heavenly Father knows how easy it is for us to fail the test of prosperity...so He uses the test of adversity...for our own good.
Pastor Dean ended with this short story.
Today, as I celebrate the 30th birthday of my first born son, I thank God for giving him to me as my son. Being the first born, he will always have a special place in my heart.
And as I celebrate Mother's Day, I am thankful for many things. I thank God for the circumstances of my life that have shaped me and molded me into the mother that I am today.
I thank God for the trials and difficulties that have helped keep me from being swept away by strong currents as I cross my river.
I am thankful for my three natural children, and two new daughters, the wives of my sons. How special it is so to have two daughters added to my own family but who were brought up by other mothers!
As I bring this Mother's Day post to an end, I want to share two quotes:
One is this little poem about mothers written by Chuck Swindoll which was read in church today:
This is the kind of heart I want to be known for.
The other quote I'm sharing is one that actually took me by surprise. I looked up the lyrics of the Traditional American hymn Peace Like a River and found this:
The additional lyrics I saw on this blog came as a complete surprise to me. It somehow spoke of the same things that were on my heart this morning.
As I have shared my heart again on this post, may God touch each person who comes across these lines. May you be richly blessed, and receive hope and encouragement for whatever circumstances you may be facing today.
- Nehemiah 8:10
Today our family is celebrating Mother's Day and First Born's 30th birthday.
What thoughts go through my heart on this special day?
I woke up this morning with sense of joy. Yes, even in the midst of uncertainties, joy is the faithful companion that has helped keep my heart above water.
At 5 o;clock in the morning, I was watering my plants. Ater five months of very low water pressure in our village, with our faucets remaining dry for the most part of the day, the water supply is finally back!
Watering my garden has such a cleansing effect on my heart.
An untended garden is a sign of an untended heart.
My dad used to tell me that. And somehow I have not forgotten it.
The sun had not yet risen at 5 a.m., but already Samantha, my dachshund-Basset hound mix breed faithful eight-year old dog, was out in the garden with me, keeping me company. She would stretch herself on a low portion of the wall, and lay her head on the iron grills, her eyes focused on me.
I was thinking of joy...and at the same time I was thinking of what takes place before joy comes.
Tears and pain and joy... somehow they all go together.
I found myself humming this song that my children and I used to sing when they were small:
I've got peace like a river...
I've got joy like a fountain...
I've got love like an ocean...
Beautiful familiar lines.
But in my heart, I was looking for something more. Not just the peace, or the joy, or the love.
If I'm honest, there's got to be a place for pain, too. And tears.
That somehow made the feeling more complete...and more realistic.
In church today, my friend Ruby was asked to offer a special prayer for the mothers in the congregation. Her prayer moved me to tears.
Her mother's heart has been going through very difficult times these past two weeks. I can't go into details...but we have been praying for her and her husband. We are asking God to intervene in their behalf.
If the past two weeks of her life had been different, she said her prayer would probably be different. I could really identify with what she said.
On mother's day, we read and hear about many glowing accounts about great mothers. But the truth is that being a mother is one of the most important roles in the world, but also one of the most difficult.
A mother's job is often a thankless one. Fortunate is the mother whose children someday realize how much she has done, and stand up to honor her, and thank her!
I am one such mother.
During Worshiper's wedding ceremony last December, he and Chosen One honored their mothers by thanking us for all the things we have done for them.
"Thank you for all the support, for believing in me, for always being there for me, Mama," Worshiper said. He couldn't keep back the tears, the only time during his wedding that he cried.
It was a joyous occasion, but at that point, I had to let my own tears fall as well.
One evening, a few years ago, my first born son came home and found me sitting in the living room, reading a book. He must have been around 24 or 25 years old then. He sat beside me, hugged me, and just out of the blue, told me - "Mama, I just want to thank you for your unconditional love for me." He had tears in his eyes. "You don't know how much your love has brought healing to my heart."
And, my daughter Obedient One, often hugs me and tells me, "I love you gid katama, Mama."
This is an English phrase mixed with a couple of words in the Ilonggo dialect - which means, "I love you very, very, very much, Mom, more than words can express."
Not all mothers are as fortunate. Today, I have a few friends whose hearts are bleeding because of a rebellious son or daughter. A daughter totally consumed with herself, she is blind to the pain of her own mother's heart.
So Ruby's prayer was really beautiful. It was what she called, "a reality prayer." When we are under difficult and painful circumstances, our prayers become more real.
She prayed for strength for mothers, to persevere, to not give up, to focus their eyes on the goal. She prayed for Psalm 91 to be activated and to become operational in our lives. It was quite a touching prayer, especially because I knew just what she was going through.
The message that our pastor Dean Gamboa gave this morning was equally moving. Our church is doing the series entitled "Embracing God," aimed at showing a different aspect of God each week, based on the ten commandments.
Pastor Dean's message on the first commandment is probably the best one I have ever heard on this topic.
The first commandment says:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
- Exodus 20:2
One of the passages he quoted was:
For the LORD’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
- Deuteronomy 32:9
God has considered Jacob (Israel) as His inheritance. He has taken good care of her, carried her to Himself, close to His heart on eagle's wings.Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
- Deuteronomy 32:9
And for their own sake, God wants them to have no other gods aside from Him.
We have seen God's power, how He has saved the Israelites, delivered them from slavery to freedom, from poverty to abundance.
God brings many tests into our lives to purify our hearts, Dean said.
Our heavenly Father knows how easy it is for us to fail the test of prosperity...so He uses the test of adversity...for our own good.
Pastor Dean ended with this short story.
It has been said that the best way to go across a deep river is to carry a very heavy rock on one's shoulders. The heavier the rock, the safer it is.
Carrying that heavy load keeps your feet down on the riverbed, and ensures that you remain steadily on course, helping you to reach the other side of the river safely.
In the same way, God allows trials and difficulties to keep our feet down on the bedrock of our faith...that we may not be swept away by the strong currents that we encounter in our journey.
Today, as I celebrate the 30th birthday of my first born son, I thank God for giving him to me as my son. Being the first born, he will always have a special place in my heart.
And as I celebrate Mother's Day, I am thankful for many things. I thank God for the circumstances of my life that have shaped me and molded me into the mother that I am today.
I thank God for the trials and difficulties that have helped keep me from being swept away by strong currents as I cross my river.
I am thankful for my three natural children, and two new daughters, the wives of my sons. How special it is so to have two daughters added to my own family but who were brought up by other mothers!
As I bring this Mother's Day post to an end, I want to share two quotes:
One is this little poem about mothers written by Chuck Swindoll which was read in church today:
As I walk through the museum of my memories,
I owe you—for your time. Day and night.
I owe you—for your example. Consistent and dependable.
I owe you—for your support. Stimulating and challenging.
I owe you—for your humor. Sparky and quick.
I owe you—for your counsel. Wise and quiet.
I owe you—for your humility. Genuine and gracious.
I owe you—for you hospitality. Smiling and warm.
I owe you—for your insight. Keen and honest.
I owe you—for your flexibility. Patient and joyful.
I owe you—for your sacrifices. Numerous and quickly forgotten.
I owe you—for your faith. Solid and sure.
I owe you—for your hope. Ceaseless and indestructible.
I owe you—for your love. Devoted and deep.- quote taken from here
This is the kind of heart I want to be known for.
The other quote I'm sharing is one that actually took me by surprise. I looked up the lyrics of the Traditional American hymn Peace Like a River and found this:
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got pain like an arrow,
I’ve got pain like an arrow,
I’ve got pain like an arrow in my soul.
I’ve got tears like the raindrops,
I’ve got tears like the raindrops,
I’ve got tears like the raindrops in my soul.
I’ve got strength like a mountain,
I’ve got strength like a mountain,
I’ve got strength like a mountain in my soul.
Full circle. With that strength I knew I might yet embrace those tears and the pain of that morning and allow the love, joy, and even peace begin to wash over me.
I share this personal story because I know that many of my blog readers, struggling to bring peace to this world, face dark nights of the soul along with times of rage, sorrow, and daily challenges, frustrations and anxieties. Life is easy for no one, and for activists and changemakers there can be additional challenges as we expose ourselves to grave problems and desperate situations and profound suffering we hope to change.
If you sometimes find the challenges too hard to bear, I offer this hymn. It helped me that morning, and I hope it helps you, too.
Zoe Weil, Humane Connection blog
The additional lyrics I saw on this blog came as a complete surprise to me. It somehow spoke of the same things that were on my heart this morning.
As I have shared my heart again on this post, may God touch each person who comes across these lines. May you be richly blessed, and receive hope and encouragement for whatever circumstances you may be facing today.
19 comments:
Dropping by to greet you a Happy Mother's Day sister Lidj and Happy Birthday to your oldest!
Your post is truly encouraging especially we all go through different trials and in different degrees. No matter how painful and difficult, I believe because of them, we learn to appreciate more the times when we are going through joys and not having as many problems. I love to think of these fiery trials as a refining process, the Lord removing what needs to be taken away from us. Then, we come out purer. Stronger in character.
Being a mother I think is the hardest job in this world. But being a godly mother, the one with a close walk with the Lord, makes life's challenges seem bearable no matter how difficult. Knowing that her faith and trust in the Lord are what gives her that strength to endure. May the Lord bless all the mothers! Your children are trained well by you. It showed by the words from their hearts spoken to honor you. It really makes a big difference when mothers have that reverential fear of the Lord that they pass on to their children. Have a blessed Mother's Day sister Lidj. May the Lord's guidance, comfort and strength shower upon those hurting.
Dear Lidj,
Your words are food for my soul, inspiration for my spirit.
Mother's Day in Norway is celebrated in February. Today,May 9th, is birthday of my newest cousin. She's born in 1952, but until half a year ago I knew nothing of her.
She was born out of wedlock, her mother was the youngest sister of my mother. She was born in my small hometown and brought away for adoption immediately.
My mother had to promise never to tell, and she did keep her promise.
My "newest" cousin found the way to her birth mother and her four siblings through the Salvation Army.
But my aunt was not able to welcome the daughter she had given away. Instead she got a brain stroke. She survived, but is still not able to receive her first born.
Luckily my four cousins have welcomed their sister in the family.
My cousin is born in 1952, she's three years younger than me.
She's married, is well off and even had a good childhood.
Nevertheless she misses her biological mother.
No one is condemning my aunt, my grandmother, my mother or the other of that generation forced to secrecy, they did what was common at that time.
I still am hoping and praying for a happy ending. I know the wound in the heart of my aunt must be as big as the one in the heart of my cousin.
Dear Lidj,
I will of course be grateful to meet your grand nephew either here or in Bergen. Bergen is 3 1/2 hours driving away from our little town.
No need for him to bring gifts.
He's a bond from you to me, that will be an honor.
I do have a variable health condition, but with the help of the Lord and Gunnar, I set my hope up, that we will be able to meet.
From yours Felisol
Dear Lidj:
Happy Mothers Day! and Happy Birthday to your firstborn!
How beautiful are the words in this blog. I too can share with you in the verses about pain in that song. I don't think I've ever really learned anything deep about God or myself apart from pain. He definitely uses it to grow us. I love what your pastor said about carrying the large rock...
Blessings to you for a wonderful day. I was also up at 5, but God was watering my garden for me this morning!
Love,
Sonja
Happy Mothers Day to you and Happy Birthday to First Born.
I've appreciated your thoughts today and the quotes you ended with. I used to sing the Peace like a River song when I was young. The three last verses you quoted, I've never heard before, but they are so true!
Hi Lidj, It's always a treat to read your postings. Have a blessed Mother's Day with your family! Sandy:O)
I loved this post, Lidia. What empathy for the hurting mothers in your circle .. and the gratitude and abundance of love from your own children ... you are indeed blessed.
Hugs,
"When we are under difficult and painful circumstances, our prayers become more real."
And I couldn't make it without His strength. And peace.
And the joy that He gives.
Happy Mother's Day, Lidj!
Sweet dreams.
This was an amazing post with so many things I related to about water and gardens and hearts! Wow!
First - it was the scripture from yours and my favorite Psalm 126 which I call my psalm of JOY and PROMISE... then you wrote these words which I'd like to quote you on:
"joy is the faithful companion that has helped keep my heart above water."
Wow - did that speak to my heart! Sooooo true especially after suffering through the tender loss of our spouses!
Thanks for sharing your heart as a mother but also as God's daughter!
Blessings and JOY be yours today!
Stephanie
Lidj,
Thank you, my sister for sharing your joy of motherhood with us. It reminds me of my own mother whom I have not seen in over 5 years. I see your joy as you celebrate not only Mother's day but your son's birthday. Yes, each mother has her story to tell...It make me wonder what story my mother who make of me. But..even though I gave her heartache during my teenage years, the Lord called me back under His wings and I understand what it means to honor our parents and not grieve our mothers.
I love my mum...for her love, constant encouragement and above all, as someone I can only look up to on matter what! She has been a blessings to us, just as you to your children and family at large.
HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY not only today...but each and everyday.
Blessings,
Gladwell
A beautiful post. Thank you for sharing from your heart. I also have a Mothers Day blessing! My son was born 36 years ago on a May 12 Mothers Day.:)
dear crown of beauty,
such a heart moving post!.you know when i read what the gifts were that your children gave you, their thanks for your unconitional love, the love tears and the constant, "i love you mama" are far richer treasures than mere gifts..
i feel bad fot that mom who's daughter seems to be forsaking her.
i have never been a mother but i can almost feel her pain just as i feel the pain of our beloved sisters, donna and connie.
i am so happy that you are the queen to your children..
you are a gentle soul dear sister....love terry
A belated happy mother's day, Lidj! Your children are blessed to have a Christian mother who lives in joy!
My children are too young to be living in rebellion with God, yet. But there are several "sisters" from my home church who have left God. One thing I've taken comfort in is God's word, which reminds me that even though they may part from God, His word still remains with them. They can run from it, but it's always there, reminding them.
Continue in joy, Lidj. Much love.
Hey Lidj! I wanted to stop by this evening for a visit and was sooo blessed by this post! I haven't thought of that song in years and reading the verses brought floods of memories to my heart! Thank you so much for sharing your heart, dear sister. Oh, how precious the words of love and appreciation your children spoke over you.....what a blessing! But I too weep for the hearts of Mothers whose children who are rebellious and distant. I can't imagine fully what their mother's heart is feeling but I pray for Divine Reconciliation for them and the comfort of the Holy Spirit!
I've been out of the bloggy loop somewhat for several months now and am enjoying catching up with everyone and hearing what the Lord is stirring within their heart! So glad to "reconnect" with you and so many other wonderful bloggin' for Jesus sisters!! You are a blessing!
Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
Sending hugs your way.
'Tears and pain and joy... somehow they all go together.'
Yes, they certainly do. Thank you for your wonderful words. They never fail to stir my heart and lift my spirit.
Your children are truly blessed to have you as their mother. I am blessed to call you my friend.
{{HUGS}}
Teresa <><
"Joy is the faithful companion that has helped keep my heart above water." I don't have time to read all blogs at the depths they deserve to be read. But this phrase caught my eye and I pray for the joy of the Lord to be my conscious experience through these "times of rage, sorrow, and daily challenges, frustrations and anxieties." I pray the same for you, Dear One!
I'm so happy you had a wonderful Mother's Day! God graciously also gave me a special one, with many precious words from my family. I love them so much!
Still, I want to be a better mother and a better everything. I pray that I will get out of God's way so His glory will guide and reflect Himself to my family and others.
I love the song you shared. I remember singing this one as a teenager. It is truly meaningful and has stuck with me.
I love your father's quote about heart and gardens, too! I had never heard it before, but it is wise.
Much love to you, dear friend,
Andrea
Joy to all - on the basis of "Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured the cross", Hebrews 12: 2
Lidj,
What a wonderful post about Mother's Day. I was blessed to hear from or be with all eight of my children on that special day. I even got news that one beloved son-in-love accepted Christ into his life that week. Praise God!!!
I haven't kept up with your posts but I intend to visit more often. Your words are very wise.
Thanks for your comments on my blog and to my year-old comments to your blog.
Sue
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