In This Storm

Joy features a “Cherish Your Children” challenge at her blog, Joy In The Journey and yesterday’s challenge struck me as a wonderful Mother’s Day gift ~ Though not so much for the mamas in the blogosphere.

I’m all for that, mind you.

Have. At. It.

I probably should, too.

But I am really thinking perhaps we could bless our own mamas with the challenge - amended just a tad.

I have had my share of “moments” with my mom, and the older I get the more I realize how many times I made really bad choices about how to handle them.

Mostly, I’ve harbored way too many of them in my heart in the past.

The Lord has really been working on me and my hard heart in this latest storm in my life.

And from what I have been reading on blogs and in blog comments the past several years, I’m not alone.

For moms, Joy suggests this:

“Take a piece of paper and write down everything you can think of that you are holding against yourself as a mother (real or false guilt). Include it all. Take them to the Lord, show Him your pain, your struggles, your failings. Then, ask Him for His forgiveness. Let it seep into your soul that you are truly forgiven. Write the verse 1 John 1:9 on the top of your paper.

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Now, take the list and burn it or tear it up!

We are forgiven, and we can live without guilt as mothers. We must continually seek His face, and each day ask the Lord to renew our minds.” ~Joy Forney, Cherish Your Children - Mothering Without Guilt, Joy In The Journey, May 7, 2008

This week, before we reach Mother’s Day 2008, might we (those of us who need to, that is) take a few minutes and try this amended challenge?

Take a piece of paper and write down everything you can think of that you are holding against your own mom. Include it all.

Take it to the Lord, show Him your pain, your struggles.

Ask Him to show you your own failings in this relationship.

Then, tell Him you want to forgive her. Ask Him to help you forgive as He has forgiven you.

Then, ask Him for His forgiveness. (Because it is sin to hold these things against her.) It is only in being forgiven often that we learn to readily forgive!

Write the verse Matthew 6:14 on the top of your paper:

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

We are forgiven, and we have been told by Jesus, Himself, to share that forgiveness with others.

Now, take the list and burn it or tear it up!

Perhaps you are thinking (or are already tappy-tap-tapping in the comment box):

“Kari, you do not know my mother. Would you believe she… But, she…”

No, friend, I do not know your mother.

But God does.

And of even our enemies Jesus said this:

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.”

(He also said:)
“Whoever hits you on the cheek,
offer him the other also;
and whoever takes away your coat,
do not withhold your shirt from him either.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and whoever takes away what is yours,
do not demand it back.
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
If you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them.
If you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
For even sinners do the same.
If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend,
expecting nothing in return;
and your reward will be great,
and you will be sons of the Most High;
for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:27-36

Even *if* your mama did all of those evil things mentioned above,

and I am guessing that for the majority of us it wasn’t anywhere near that bad, Jesus said:

Forgive.

Love.

Bless.

Be merciful.

Time and again in recent years I have been struck by the fact that
Jesus said: Love. Your. Enemies.

And time and again in recent years I have been struck by the fact that
He really. meant. it.

This Mother’s Day, if you need to, won’t you consider giving your mom the gift of your forgiveness?

Jesus. Really. Meant. It.

And then, be sure to take a few minutes for Joy’s challenge to release yourself from your own Mother Guilt.

I personally highly recommend:

Choosing Forgiveness: Your Journey To Freedom, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

and, as usual, my Disclaimer about linked products:

I am too darn tired and busy to bother trying to make any money off this blog. It already takes up more time than it should. So, while I link for the reader’s curiosity and ease, I don’t have any affiliations with any companies, etc., etc., etc., and I don’t make a dime from any purchases you might make after following any links from here. But if you read or try anything I mention, I’d love to hear your thoughts afterward!!!

“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”