Happy Birthday Mom

As I read posts on Facebook and other social media, I am realizing many people relive their losses as the calendar rolls through the year. The older we get, the more loss we inevitably experience. Honoring the ones who are gone is a blessing as we can focus on the good memories and concrete them into our lives. Choosing to let the good replace the sadness, the empty places and the hard times through whatever road we traveled through that experience, is just that – a choice.

Today, I choose to honor my mom on her birthday. Back in the summer we began to plan a celebration for her 80th birthday today. Being as it is Thanksgiving week, everyone was coming from California, to Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. Possibly even New York and North Carolina.

In September, we celebrated Mom’s life in an unexpected way as we all gathered for our final goodbye to her.

Today, we are all remembering her. As is normal for me, I love to use my pictures to help me portray our last few years with her.

So, enjoy my memories – I thank God for them and how He comforts us through the loss.

Nehemiah 8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Lord, I ask you today to comfort those of us who are experiencing loss at this time in our lives. You promise us Lord that you know our pain and you understand what causes us to suffer. Please give us the courage to turn to Your words that will lead us to know the comfort You provide in these times. Our journeys are not easy, but knowing we are not alone in our travels, gives us hope. The hope that one day, there will be no more suffering, pain and grief. In Jesus’ name I pray for all of us. Amen.