“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” – Romans 12:9-12
“Mother’s Day” has certainly evolved for us over the years. From handprint cards made in Sunday school, to children grown and gone (all over the world), to the passing of Rebekah’s mama and then my mum it has been consistently hit-or-miss – but always an important moment to be grateful both for our children and our parents.
This year it was Mother’s Day on the road. We went to church with Zandra and Ed in Newington with the local Methodist congregation, enjoyed brunch over in Statesboro, then drove back to North Carolina doing out best to avoid the insanity of Interstate-95 as much as possible.
Overall – while we were gone – we put over 2,200 miles on the Subaru, specifically visited around thirty people we love, tangentially visited close to another hundred people we love, spent time in Montgomery, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Orlando and Newington, learned a lot of interesting (and challenging) history, enjoyed catching up with our awesome grandchildren and did our best to bring the light and the promise of the Good News into every situation.
There is no other way to engage this life that is so full with wonder and challenge and pain and love and opportunity.
My Mother’s Day gift to Rebekah was the most recent photographs of our children, Andrew and Naomi. The cool-looking copper lantern in the picture is Naomi’s gift to her mama.
Regardless of gifts or phone calls or FaceTime a couple of days later, we are blessed to be parents and I will always celebrate Rebekah’s identity as a mother. Now, with our children in their early 40’s, the best we can do is to love them and to pray for them every day – not some perfunctory prayer but everything we’ve got and from the depths of our hearts.
Have an amazing week, friends, and (always) live in peace – DEREK
Photos: with Zandra and Ed and the church:
