Tag: love

A Mother’s Heart

Leave a comment

I’m back! 

Back to one of my love’s…writing. Not that I have stopped writing or ever will (Lord willing) but writing has looked different for me in this season. It’s been more personal. It has been a vehicle for processing the tough questions…” Did I get it right?”, “Did I take care of the people and things that God has trusted me with?”, “What’s next?”. Writing for me this season has been a searching, purging, and cleansing of the soul. 

Life has also been “lifing”! Though I feel like I have been present, time seems like it is moving at a new rate of speed. Speaking of time flying, this weekend I had the privilege of watching my son receive his bachelor’s degree. It seems like somehow overnight I became the mother of a 22-year-old college graduate. My once bright eyed, full of laughter baby boy is now a man with the world in front of him. 

It is hard to put into words what I felt in that moment or even today. Not because there aren’t any words, but rather there are so many. There is so much to process, all the memories, the answered prayers, and wishing I could shrink him back into his pint size packaging. Excited and at the same time just a bit anxious about the journey ahead. The gratitude I have for being chosen to be his mother. 

I have often wondered what this moment would feel like. None of them compared to what I am feeling. There have been moments where my heart has been so full I thought it would leap out of my chest. The quiet moments reflecting on the memories, silent prayers, sacrifices and tears shed over the years trying to figure out how to get this mothering thing right. 

Then there is the moment. What now? How do I transition to being the mother of an adult? How do I let go to watch what I gave birth to, nurtured, prayed over go into the world to find his own place in it? The answer – trust God. If we’re being honest, the answer is much simpler than the doing. We think we know what is best for our children when it’s always been God at the helm teaching us, protecting them, and preparing the path they would take. 

God has given women the greatest gift and privilege, second only to the gift of Jesus, with the gift of motherhood. He has entrusted us with the care of His sons and daughters, calling us to be fruitful and give Him glory in the process. To be fruitful, we must be willing to release what we produced – trusting God to take care of the rest.  Releasing what we have given birth to demonstrates our trust in God. Releasing gives space for God’s promises to unfold. He has a plan for our children’s lives, just like He has one for ours. Releasing does not change who they are, who we are or who God is. My son was God’s son first and will always be just like I will always be his mother. No matter what. 

As we approach Mother’s Day and in honor of mothers in every season of life, I will be sharing daily devotionals from A Mother’s Heart, a gift I wrote to encourage the special women in my life. A reminder of the greatness of who we are, to honor the sacrifices we are called to make, and to celebrate embracing the call of motherhood. Whether you have birth children or not, God has given you a mother’s heart. 

Forever Grateful, 

Jennifer 

P.S. Scrolling through the pictures from this weekend, I came across this picture that gently reminded me “Mom, it’s okay to let go now.” LOL. 

Love Hurts.

Leave a comment
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Love hurts.

Loving someone, means you will inevitably experience pain…you risk being disappointed, frustrated, and even rejected. The pain associated with love is only known by the depths that one loves. In fact, it’s often not until you experience loss that you realize just how great your love was for that which was lost and there is no greater loss than when our loved ones transition from this life to the next. The scar of grief that remains is a reminder of the love we lost, how things were and how they could have been. The scar is frequently agitated by memories, pictures, special occasions and just about anything that reminds you it’s still there.

Grief is a process with no end in sight. It stays with you forever yet improves over time and with great care. While grief is associated with pain…and don’t get me wrong it is dreadfully painful at times, it is also a reminder of the love we had, the memories we made, and the life that we shared. Though we don’t welcome grief, it is an indication of our capacity to love and care for the people God has placed in our lives if only for a season but always in our hearts. It is in our grief, that we discover unknown strength, gain new perspectives of love, and a deeper appreciation for those that remain. Love is patient, gentle, kind….but it also hurts.

As I navigate my own grief journey, I am comforted by the love that I still have, the outpouring of love from my family and friends, and God’s grace…which is more than sufficient. I am also learned to embrace the process of grief and to handle myself with care. 

When the pain sets in:

Remember

Remember the good memories you shared with your loved one. Remember the expressions of love, the moments that bring you joy, and the moments that make you laugh.

Release

Cleanse your soul. When the tears come, let them fall and just be. Tears are a necessary part of the journey.

Reach Out

YOU. ARE. NOT. ALONE.  Reach out to your family and friends. Let them know that you are hurting. You are not a burden. As one who loved, those deposits that you made are waiting for you with open arms. Don’t be afraid to say you are not okay. It’s okay not to be okay. And don’t be afraid to seek counseling or therapy. In fact, I highly recommend it.

Rejoice

Celebrate your loved one’s life and your progress in your grief journey.

Repeat

Grief is a forever thing. Repeat this process as often as needed.

 

Love hurts but it is worth it all.

 

Scriptures to comfort you throughout your grief journey:

  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 91:1-2
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9
  • John 16:33
  • Jeremiah 13:13-14
  • Matthew 5:4
  • Isaiah 40:29-31

Searching for Real Love

Leave a comment
Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

Valentine’s Day. A day for lovers. A day set aside to celebrate love. Some choose to express their love through flowers, romantic dinner/gestures, candy, and cards filled with sweet sentiments reserved for this special day of love. For some, Valentine’s Day is a reminder of their relationship status or lack thereof. It can be a day of grieving what was lost, what was hoped for, and wondering why you are the only one in your circle who is still single. These are valid feelings. They shouldn’t be just shrugged off, dismissed, and ignored. However, they should not lead you to believe you aren’t loved either. The truth is you are loved more than you even know.

As a single woman, I must be intentional about being gentle and loving myself on Valentine’s Day, and to be honest regularly. I must remember how deeply I am loved by God and the people that He has placed in my life. To freely pour the love that I do have into those I am attached to. To spend time loving myself, appreciating my own worth and keep living so that when that special person does come along, I can fully appreciate and freely pour out the love that I have to offer.

See…the thing that I have come to realize is, there is only one True Love. He sees me, He knows me, He cares about me, and He loves me. I don’t have to earn His love; I don’t have to prove that I am worthy of love. I can be me and know that He loves me. There are no conditions to be met – only an open heart to receive what He has to offer. Without True Love, love can never be known or embraced.

There’s a story in the Bible about a young woman named, Leah, who was vying for the attention and love of her mate. A mate who was with her out of obligation, not love. A mate who loved someone else. She hoped by giving him babies, something her sister couldn’t do, it would make her worthy of his love. Leah, described as one with gentle eyes (kindly implying, she wasn’t attractive), was probably overlooked by many. However, she was seen by God. I am sure there were times Leah felt alone, rejected, forgotten about and wondered why she wasn’t worthy of love.

When I read this story, I wonder what Leah felt watching up close and personal someone else be in a relationship she desired for herself. What it must have been like to long for the love she saw her sister freely receive. I realize I can empathize with Leah. Wondering when it will be your turn as you celebrate your friends finding love. Watching time go by, hoping it won’t be too late. In those moments of fleeting discontentment, thinking I must be invisible, or something is wrong with me. Then reality sets in. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me, I have so much to offer the world (not just a man), and I am so very loved!

My sister (and those brothers who might stumble across this), let me encourage you…

You are seen. You are loved. You are worthy of love and there is nothing wrong with you. Maybe it’s not the one right now, but there are people all around you who love you and need your love. Not just for one day but EVERYDAY! There is only One Real Love, One True Love that fills your heart and will satisfy every desire – forever and always.

While you wait, know that you are seen, and that God has a plan for You – a plan He had in mind when He saw you in your mother’s womb. While you wait, give birth to that vision God has placed in your heart, live life fully, and love yourself well so that you can love others well.

God saw, heard, and blessed Leah. It did not require a love she thought she needed. She received the Real Love that she needed. And then Leah said, “and now I will praise the Lord!”

I promise you…the wait will be worth it!

Your Sister in Waiting,

Jennifer

Prayer:

‘I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.’

Ephesians 3:17-21

 

Scriptures to remind you of how much you are loved:

  • John 3:16
  • John 15:9
  • John 16:27
  • Song of Solomon 4:7
  • Romans 5:8
  • Romans 8:35
  • I Peter 5:7
  • I John 3:1
  • I John 3:16
  • I John 4:9-10

Love is Hard

Leave a comment

Loving others is easy when things are going good, the person looks like us, has similar interests, or they comply with our wishes (demands) or can be counted on to return a favor.

Love is not as easy when we have to love those that get on our last nerve – the ones that don’t see eye to eye (nor will they ever), the ones that seem the neediest, the ones that push the last button, the ones you ignore when their name pops up on your phone – those that don’t treat us the way we believe we deserve to be treated. Love is hard. I wish Brother Paul would have spent a little bit more time warning us in his famous love chapter just how difficult loving others can be at times.

When I am challenged in my own love walk, I think about all the times that I was and can be difficult to love. The times that I am cranky, unforgiving, frustrated, rebellious, the times that I hurt more than I love – a poor representative of my Father. In those times, there was always someone who still loved me despite what attitude I was taking on that particular moment. Sure, there may have been a family member, friend or brother/sister in Christ that loved me in those least desirable moments. But even their best love is limited. It is God’s love for me that never changes. His love still amazes me. Despite my unlovable moments, He is always right there loving, covering and reminding me to give the same love that He freely gives to me. His love looks past all of my mess and sees His child, who He will always love.

“This is love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” I John 4:10-12

As believers and followers of Jesus, when we choose to lay aside our opinions, preferences, and judgments, we are allowing the world to see God’s love through us.

Father, help us to grasp the depth of Your love that surpasses knowledge so that we would be filled to the measure of the fullness of You that we might be able to love our brothers and sisters with the love that You have showed us. Amen.

Remember what Jesus said: ““If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:32-36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A Love Letter to Him…

1 Comment

You knew me way back then. You saw me from a distance…your eyes always on me. You seen me in the secret place. You and only you know everything there is to know about me…even my most deepest thoughts. When I wasn’t sure I was ready for our relationship, you patiently waited for me.

Despite my frailties, failures and flaws, your love for me remains the same. Though I often disappoint you and have occasionally turned my back on you, you still claim me as yours. You were there right beside me in the darkest of times. When I hit rock bottom, you rescued me. Not Prince Charming but a King. I bowed to you. Washing your feet with my tears and you picked me up – wiping each tear away to reveal the beauty behind them.

You took my stoney heart and crushed it. Taking every broken piece, masterfully putting them back together to create a heart that beats for you alone. Though we have our secrets, your love for me is no secret at all. Sometimes I take you for granted. Not taking the time that I should to show my appreciation but your love for me has never changed. I am still the apple of your eye.

There is safety and security in your arms. Many nights they have been my resting place. As we walk this journey together, you take me by the hand and steady me when I lose my footing.

You fill me with joy. There is peace when I am with you. You take care of every one of my needs – there is nothing within your power that you would not do for me. You spared no expense when it came to me. You spent it all.

As much as I wish that I could, I could never love you the way that you love me. There is no gift that I could give to repay you for all that you have done for me. The best that I can do is give you my heart – give you all of me – holding nothing back.

I will tell the world about our love. Your love is the greatest love of all. You are all that I need. Your love is better than life itself. Your love is the only love that will stand the test of time. You will never take your love away from me and it will never change. No matter what we go through, NOTHING will separate me from your love. Your love simply amazes me – I continue to be in awe of you.

All that I am and all that I will ever be is because of you. You complete me.

Before I knew you, I heard about you. Now that I know you, I can’t imagine my life without you.

I love you because you loved me first.

I love you because of who you are.

I love you because there is no one like you.

You are my King. The King of Kings.

I love You Lord.

It starts with love ❤️…

2 Comments

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I look at the current climate of our country and the world for that matter, what I see missing is love. People walk through life empty, bitter, angry, and full of hate…lives completely void of love. Never embracing the love freely given to them.

Because of this void, people tear one another down, pick each other apart, bully, hate, harm (verbally, emotionally, or physically) and even kill each other.

Am I saying love fixes everything?

Absolutely.

Love proved itself the ultimate healing agent when God gave His only Son, Jesus, that we might have eternal life and live an abundant life filled with love. He never intended for us to live these hate-filled empty lives

So what’s missing….

Our love of God.

He loves us but do we love Him?

Do we love ourselves?

It’s impossible to love anyone else without loving the two.

Try Love today…because you are loved!