When I was in grade school I played the role of a nativity angel in our church Christmas musical one year. I'm confident I was awarded this role because of how truly angelic I was as a child- YEAH RIGHT!. Lori Harris had just given birth to her son Connor. They played the roles of Mary and Baby Jesus. During our big performance Lori was visibly upset. There was a soloist in the background; the stage was dark except for one mega bright spotlight (thanks Dad) that was on us. For that scene I was directed to look over Mary and Baby Jesus while Mary embraced her sweet baby. As the tears rolled down Lori's cheek, I leaned over and whispered, "What's wrong?" she quickly nodded and said, "nothing". Being the percocious child I was I persisted, "Why are you crying?". She wiped off her cheek, cleared her throat, looked up at me and said in a soft voice, "One day you will know."
On February 19th, 2009 I found out why Lori cried that night.
Last Mother's Day we visited Three Oaks Baptist with Brian's parents. During that service Brother Bill Phipps said (I will never forget it), "Having a baby is creating a piece of eternity. You've created something that is eternal."
There is no greater gift than the gift of motherhood. It's a humbling feeling of joy, gratitude and love so great and powerful it could move mountains. When I became a mother I experienced change at my core. A physical change took place in my heart. My energy and gifts pre-Thomas were spent on things of the moment, (my career, our home, vacations, things money can buy... just to name a few). I placed little thought on eternal treasures talked about in Matthew.
Just because you may not have your King James or NIV handy, I just wanted to share what Matthew tells us about eternal treasures.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:19-24)
It's hard and somewhat embarrassing to admit because my parents had me in church every time the doors were open, I accepted Jesus into my life at VBS in June of 88'. The really unfortunate part is, I didn't know how off base I was. I was a Believer but the life application was something I struggled with. My "fruits of the spirit" were stunted in growth. I have tons of regret for opportunities wasted but I'm comforted knowing my past is behind me and living for Jesus Christ is what sustains me today. And whoever could be reading this, your past can be behind you too.
Just because you may not have your King James or NIV handy, I just wanted to share what Matthew tells us about eternal treasures.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:19-24)
It's hard and somewhat embarrassing to admit because my parents had me in church every time the doors were open, I accepted Jesus into my life at VBS in June of 88'. The really unfortunate part is, I didn't know how off base I was. I was a Believer but the life application was something I struggled with. My "fruits of the spirit" were stunted in growth. I have tons of regret for opportunities wasted but I'm comforted knowing my past is behind me and living for Jesus Christ is what sustains me today. And whoever could be reading this, your past can be behind you too.
Thomas please know this: If I do nothing else with the time we are given together, I want to have taught you about the Lord. I want to fill your brain with scripture and love for others. Jesus tell us "They will know you are mine by your love for one another", John 13:35 (sorry I'm paraphrasing....Brian has my bible in his car). When I breathe my last breath on this Earth I want to know that I will see you in Heaven. Nothing else matters, period.
Nothing makes me happier than to be Thomas's mother.
Happy Mother's Day to all you in the "Ministry of Motherhood".
I hope your heart swells with so much LOVE it could burst!
