Tag Archives: Mother’s Day

Five Secrets to Become the Best Mom

7 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged May 7, 2022

May 6, 2022

I went down on one knee. “Look at me, honey.” I turned my four-year-old Joe’s face toward me. “What’s in your mouth?”

“Nothin’.”

As the youngest of three, he never knew a mom with sight. A retinal disease robbed my sight when he was much younger. And my family’s adjustment was painfully inevitable.

I took him by the hand. “Is that chocolate I smell? It’s before dinner. C’mon young man, let’s spit it out.”

Outwardly I seemed in control. But I still questioned my ability as a blind mom. I fretted about their possible lack of confidence or even shame because of my blindness.

Mothering without sight was daunting.

The tasks challenging. I questioned my ways. Did I do too much? Not enough? Did I fail my sons in the way I corrected them? Was I too strict? Too lenient? Insecurities lay on the pillow beside me at night.

But along came David to save the day. Remember him as a boy? He was scrawny, a bit of a shy kid, the youngest of his brothers. And probably voted the least likely to succeed in the senior class of the local Shepherd high school.

And when Goliath showed up, David seemed inadequate, unprepared and way too weak to defeat the giant. But God knew different because He chose him. Skinny David held not a trace of insecurity, doubt or worry. He put on the backpack of courage and gathered five stones. But those stones weren’t what would defeat the big guy. But rather, David’s secret weapon called bold faith became the weapon to bring him victory.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17:44)

That’s the same way we come against insecurities in our mothering, in our doubt of our abilities, regret for what we did or failed to do. As we come against all of that in the name of the Lord, we put on our bold faith and gather our five stones. Even in these turbulent times, they are the secrets to succeed and be the best moms ever.

  • The stone of courage to stand firm and secure enough to know we have Christ’s power to silence the lies that whisper doubt and insecurities.
  • The stone of reassurance that God is with us every moment of every day to defeat fear, worry and anxiety.
  • The stone of wisdom, God-given wisdom to choose our words, direct our steps and guide our path.
  • The stone of trust to know God has His eyes on our kids. He will keep them safe, guard their lives and trace their steps.
  • The stone of joy to erase gloom, sadness or disappointment.

This Mother’s Day let’s celebrate not so much the perfect moms, but those who are perfectly devoted to Christ. Not the moms who have all the answers, but those who believe God has them. Not the moms who have it all together, but the moms who admit their weakness so God can make them strong. Not the moms who are raising stars, but those who teach them to rise above hard times. Not the moms who cover her kids with the latest fashion, but those who cover them with prayers.

God chose David. And He chose you, too. He hand-picked you to be the mom to those kiddoes. He didn’t leave David to bring down the giant on his own. He’s not leaving you alone either, as He’s already handed you the stones, He already given you the victory—in His power, In His might and in His name.

Let’s Pray

Father, may Your Word remind me You are watching over my kids, guiding them when I fail, teaching them when I don’t know how and protecting them when I’m not near them. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Which stones will you gather this Mother’s Day?

Janet

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I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Let’s connect:

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Mother’s Day 2021

9 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Credit ChurchArt

Here we are, another Mother’s Day.  It seems I’ve told you about all I can or know about my mother and my mother-in-law.  And so, I may share some snippets from other posts I’ve done about them…and then add some new thoughts.

My mother was unique

in that she met and married a man 20 years her senior.  And yet, that marriage was rock solid, and one I looked to imitate in my own marriage.  I like to think Fred and I have achieved that.  

She loved to sing and to play the piano.  She had a good ear and would just go and sit down at the piano and begin playing. 

She was a great cook!  I’m sorry to say I didn’t let her teach me much about cooking.  Most of what I did/do I more-or-less learned on my own.  I also can’t duplicate much of what she cooked.

Her work ethic was one to be admired.  While I am a good “starter” I’m not necessarily a good “finisher.”  Mother was good at both – if she started a project, she didn’t stop until it was finished.

I loved her dearly, and miss her terribly.

Fred’s mother 

was a joy to be around.  Her love was her husband and her children – all four of them!  And after Fred (her first born) and I married, she treated me like one of her daughters!  She was, truly, a second mother to me.

She was also a great cook, and she taught me several of her recipes that her family loved.  And I still use some of them to this day.

To know my husband as I do, I can see her hand in his up-bringing.  She was a gentle soul, but must have had a firm hand in child-rearing.  

She loved to have fun, and was a bit of a cut-up.  I will always remember her with me on the beach in northern California, dancing barefoot through the wet sand and kelp.

She was funny, cute, elegant, classy, down-to-earth, loved to laugh….

She left us far too early with Alzheimer’s Disease, and I miss her terribly.

Both mothers – above all else – taught their families to love and honor Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

And I like to think we have passed that along to our daughters, as well.  Both of our girls are God-fearing and God-loving women.  They have taught their children about Jesus Christ, and I’m pleased to say that Jesus is the guiding light in their families.

We are so proud of both our daughters.

Our Karen

has loved libraries and books as long as we can remember.  And so, her chosen field is to work in a library.  She started out as a “page” in her high school years, and is now a “researcher” in her local library.  She’s the expert!

Our Janet

is the Human Resources Director for a county.  I was always amused to hear her say that she didn’t need to take a typing class in high school, as she would have a secretary to do all her typing!   Didn’t quite work out that way, hmm, Janet?

They are both professional women, and yet love and care for their families.  

We thank God for our Mothers and the lineage they have passed down through us to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Credit ChurchArt

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 2021

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Our Day on the Farm

11 May

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Almost everyone has a deep desire for human contact! We hadn’t seen our married daughter and our married son in a long time nor their spouses whom we love. We kept in touch with Zoom, the phone, and email. It all worked well, but we were thrilled when we got a phone call to meet the four of them at Shedd’s U-Pick farm. We would do the sunflower maze. They gave us the address and said we’d meet at the farm at 10:00 A. M. on Sunday when we would normally be at church if the church were open. The digital map said it would take 26 minutes up Highway 1 to get there. 

Bill and I got there first. It was a four-acre maze full of sunflowers. Some were tall, but most came only up to our waists. There was no chance of getting lost, especially when our daughter’s tall husband led the way.

 We walked in joy for over an hour as happy as we could be. No one wore a mask in our party or any other. The air was fresh with a cool breeze and looking up, we saw a large flock of starlings flying over the field many times, tweeting zooming up and down. At first, I thought it was two different kinds of birds because they were mixed colors some black and some gray. The latter was smaller. But on second thought I knew it was males and females.

 I don’t know why they stayed for such a long time. Maybe it was the open space over the maze, or maybe they enjoyed seeing the people as much as the people enjoyed seeing them. A drone hovered causing curiosity, then it landed in the hands of a man right there in the maze. Everyone had their idea of why it was there, but no one knew for sure. 

Our son bought each of us ladies three sunflowers of our choice. That was how they came at checkout.  Some were deep reddish-brown and some yellow. The bees were busy on them sometimes two at a time. Our son practically begged us to ask for the hardest ones to get to because as he said he likes to push his way through tall vegetation in a field. 

Beautiful children abounded. Everyone looked so fresh and pretty and you could feel the love the visitors had for each other. When it was time to leave, we bought a pint of Orange Blossom honey made by the bees that belong to the farm. 

Our next stop was the National Cemetery on Highway one. Our son had never been there, and I think he wished to honor our son-in-law by asking to see where his mother’s ashes were stored. 

Our son-in-law and our daughter cared for his mother in their home with the aid of caregivers. For five years. The couple was able to keep their jobs and bring in people from hospice because even though she was not physically terminal it is the law for people with dementia to be able to receive help from Hospice.  Our two managed to get out for an occasional football game or breakfast at the port. Once in a while, they could visit us to help with our computer questions. Because his dad was at the National Cemetery, his mother was too. 

It’s the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen with rolling hillocks of grass, birds, and our beautiful Florida sky. Someday… when we fly off to Heaven, Bill and I will leave our ashes there. 

Our daughter got one of her sunflowers from their car to put in a provided metal vase, daughter-in-love gave one of hers and I gave one of mine. We discussed the whole subject of being there. Our Son-in-law looked up the different crosses and other small carvings on the marble fronts of the niches in the Columbarium.  There are 72 to choose from. We took the opportunity to tell them which one we liked best.

Finally, we came to our house in Titusville. We had enough room on our porch to socially space us. We talked for a good long time.  Billy said it was a Mother’s Day gift. It was thoroughly wonderful. Fortunately, they were vigilant to watch that I didn’t accidentally grab one of them for a hug. It was a Mother’s Day to remember.

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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A Mom’s Confidence in the Midst of Chaos

10 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged May 10, 2020

I invite you, dear friends, to step away from the chaos and take a little time to relish in the oasis of God’s Word. Here’s a clear instruction, direct guidance and a beautiful promise. They’re all tucked in these verses:

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And tSleflhe peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Did you know the best way to enjoy sweet peace and confidence is by exercising your memory?

I did that recently. I remembered what God had done for me during that dreadful episode of my life when my eyesight closed in.

Here’s what happened.

I sat at the kitchen counter, wrinkled tissue in hand. I thought I had no more tears to cry. But they still flowed. With no warning, an incurable retinal disease robbed my eyesight. I sank in a dark pit of gloom and desperation. With no treatment surgery or medication available, hope vanished along with my motivation to continue with life.

At 31, that life had turned upside down, tormenting thoughts about my inability to care for my 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old sons kept me awake at night.

I dabbed my tears with the edge of my pillow case and asked God for answers. I begged Him to heal my blindness and for a hint of hope to come back.

He answered. He granted what was important. And He did so in an unexpected and a beautiful way.

One morning, I ran my fingertips along the side of the bed to find my way out of my bedroom. I followed the wall toward my 3-year-old’s room. His whimper echoed in the hallway. “I can’t find my puppy,” he said.

Once in his room, I extended my arms toward him, and kissed his chubby cheek. “We’ll find him.”

I lifted his blanket and my fingers found the soft stuffed animal.

But finding a simple item didn’t compare to the needs my sons would have as they grew up. They needed a Mom who could see.

Lord, help us, I prayed.

God had listened to my cry.

The day after that incident, Mom came to visit. She sat beside me on the couch. “This is what we’ll do,” she said. “I’ll move in with you.”

She squeezed my hand with her thin fingers. “I’ll be your eyes.”

Mom

Her words caressed my heart with gratitude.

She left her comfortable condo and moved in a room in our house. With her loving flexibility, we established a routine. Years swept by. Her hair is now snow white, and at 90 lbs. and 4’9” tall, her love is as big as the city we live in.

Selfless Love

More than taking on some chores for the family, she taught me the value of selfless love.

She just turned 91 and hasn’t lost the spark in her voice that exudes confidence in the Lord. It’s more evident now as we face the current circumstances that shake our world.

Her mind is sharp, and her faith is strong. Her trust, peace and joy remain.

And what remains in my heart is the desire to give that same gift to my own sons. In the midst of adversity could I imitate my Mom and live out Philippians 4:6?

My prayer has changed. Asking for healing of my blindness isn’t my main priority anymore. I placed these requests before the Lord instead:

Lord, grant me enough faith so my sons can see me praising God even when all falls apart. Help me to express gratitude for big and small things. Show me, Lord, how to erase fear and worry with my words that echo Your promises even when I cannot see tomorrow, will you show me how to embrace Your peace for today. And as my sons grow up and lead their own families, will You remind them life is not about seeing our surroundings, but allowing others to see the love in us.

I pray this Mother’s Day you find happiness in the gift of being a mom.

How can you find a way to change a prayer of despair into one filled with hope?

Janet

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Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Mother’s Day 2019

12 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Fred and I have been considering what to tell you about our mothers on this, their special day.  We’ve told you quite a bit about them both, and so I will just give you tidbits of what we’ve said before.

Above all else, I must make this statement first – and this comes from both Fred and myself: We both loved our mothers-in-law.  We were each treated as if we were another son (Fred by my parents) or another daughter (me by Fred’s parents), rather than son-in-law or daughter-in-law.  We were loved.

Fred’s mother – Kitty Wills…

            She was funny, cute, elegant, classy, down-to-earth, loved to laugh….

Her father was a Scottish Presbyterian minister… I remember her saying that she loved to hear the bagpipes play – it really got her blood up to a good boil!

She was devoted to her husband and their four children.  Being a U.S. Air Force wife, she moved and traveled frequently.  She had a flair for decorating, and her home was always elegant yet comfortable…They lived all over the world – many places in the United States as well as Italy, Japan, and Hawaii.

She was a great cook. She taught me to make turkey stuffing the “New England” way – with bread rather than cornbread.  She taught me to make German Springerle Christmas cookies – the best I’ve ever eaten!  

She loved to have fun, and was a bit of a cut-up. I will always remember her with me on the beach in northern California, dancing barefoot through the wet sand and kelp.

When Fred and his siblings said something “bad,” his mother, instead of washing his mouth out with soap – would put mustard on their tongues!!  Consequently, none of the Wills siblings like to eat condiments!  Understandable, right?

Fred’s Mother had one little quirk that I enjoyed. After she finished stirring a pan on the stove, or a pot of tea, she would hit the spoon on the edge of the bowl/pot/pitcher in the following pattern:

tap, tap, ta-tap, tap…..tap, tap.

For those of you old enough to remember, it is the sequence for “shave and a hair-cut…two bits.”  I always thought that was cute.

Judy’s mother – Agnes Lites

Mother’s meals consisted often of pot roast – and she could make a roast that would just melt in your mouth!  It would fall off the bone it was so tender.  Dad used to tease her with “this meat is no good – it just falls off the bone!”

I also remember that, if there was any roast left over, mother would grind it up, add mayonnaise and either relish or pickles and a hard boiled egg, and it became a meat salad. Spread it on bread, and you have a lovely sandwich!  She didn’t waste anything!

When my Dad retired and money was tight, Mother bought a Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, trained for the job, and set to work. She had a really good, strong work ethic.

Although I suspect she would have loved to be a stay-at-home mom, she worked as an accountant at Kirtland AFB, to make money for “extra” things in our life.  She bought a new piano for our house. But one of the best things about her working there, was that she would find young military personnel – usually men – who were away from home and homesick, and bring them to church with us on a Sunday, then home to Sunday dinner. She kept in contact with many of them throughout her time there. One time she broke her ankle and couldn’t climb the steps to her office upstairs. The officials were so insistent that she not “retire” that they placed a desk and lamp under the stairway just for her. They really liked her work.

Credit Google Search and Kirtland AFB website

One of the most unique things is that she met, fell in love with, and married a man who was 20 years older than herself. And yet, the marriage was one that I hoped to emulate with my marriage.  She created a loving and secure home for her husband and her children. She was heart-broken when her husband died.

The little snippet of information below is a real insight into her life.  I think it was a testimony to the way she lived her life, and the way she saw life.  It certainly makes one take notice about the wisdom of the words.  I found this in her Bible following her death.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY 2019

JUDYJudy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing.
Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.
She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins.
She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Buddy System

11 May

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

My mother handled the family finances and after she retired, she liked, as much as possible, to pay her bills in cash. As her health deteriorated, it became increasing difficult for her to do so in the brutal Florida heat, so we developed a buddy system.

Depending on how she was feeling, I would drive her up to the door of the business and keep the car air-conditioner running while she went inside.  On other days, I would take her payment in while she kept the car cool. Friday was our day and usually bill paying was followed by lunch out.

 

mom

Mom and Max

 

I miss those days, but the buddy system is still going strong. Now my daughter and I run errands together and on hot summer days we still keep the car cool for each other.

 

 

 

 

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What brings security for a mom?

13 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

 

God chose to bring me into this world on a cold spring morning in La Paz, Bolivia. My mom sat up on that old, unsteady bed in a worn-out clinic.

“The baby…the baby…it’s coming,” she shouted.

The woman looked up as she sat on a squeaky chair. She sipped her coffee. “Sorry, Señora. The midwife went home for lunch.”

With sweat beads on her forehead, my mom pressed her hand on her stomach. Tears fell and she anguished with no one to help her deliver me.

Finally, the woman put her cup down and went to the door. “Can anyone help?” she called out into the courtyard. “A baby is coming.”

The delivery started, and I was born lacking adequate medical care.

That first year, with me in her arms, she stood in long lines to get a loaf of bread and some wilted carrots. The recent revolution in La Paz had turned the economy upside down. Everything was scarce except for Mom’s love.

Years later, we followed the daily routine. I sat before her on a box we used as a stool. “Someday we’ll leave Bolivia,” she said as she braided my black hair.

That day came after four years of preparation to meet the U.S. Immigration requirements. We sold all we had. And Mother and Father worked night and day to earn enough money for airplane tickets.

And that airplane took us to a special place. As a young girl, Mom had read the Spanish translation of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” which took place on the shores of the Mississippi River. Her dream was to someday visit those places.

And that’s how St. Louis, Missouri, became the city where we began our new life.

But the adjustment to the unfamiliar territory in America wasn’t as beautiful as the stories in those books. My parents, my younger brother nor I read or spoke English. Unable to understand food can labels, we ate cat food, thinking it was tuna.

Sixth grade girls surrounded my desk, pointed at me, whispered to each other and giggled. My pierced ears in 1964 was an oddity causing astonishment.

But Mom set the example. Her job was hard on her emotions. She endured harsh treatment and humiliation. And her lack of fluency in English kept her there for many years.

She sat at the kitchen table, reading her Bible while tears flowed.

And through her strength, she nurtured us, protected us and taught us perseverance. All served to mold my childhood.

Decades swept by. And unexpectedly, I had to enter another unfamiliar territory. My blindness at 30 thrust me into a dark, terrifying world.

But like Mom, God’s Word gave me eyes to see beyond my blindness. With headphones on, I heard the Bible.

God’s strength fueled my days to do the tasks of cooking, cleaning and doing laundry while unable to see. When obstacles came, God promised me His grace would remove them and cover my mistakes.

I was born in a third-world clinic. But God ushered me into a first-class place where His riches are available. His blessings abound. And when my days as a Mom turn difficult, I ease into His arms to soothe my soul and bring security back.

To those dear moms, I hope you have the happiest Mother’s Day ever!

Janet

VIDEO OF THE WEEK SNEAK PEEK   https://youtu.be/O8lt7uWvSuw

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Source: What brings security for a mom? ~ Janet Perez Eckles

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Reflections

12 May

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

 

What does a mother say to her children
at the end of her days-
Those she has loved in so many ways?

 

“Oh, what joy I felt in my heart
when I was informed that new life
had its start.

 

Each of you was a blessing from above-
a gift of God-
the symbol of love.

 

Each is unique-
Not one is the same.
You are loved and admired
for who you are; what you became.

 

Your talents are many-
Thank God for each one.
They will nurture your being
when the day is done.

 

God will supply the strength
to face each new day-
I will be with you in spirit
every step of the way.

I Love you.

Mom”

 

 

Footnote:

Quote from Max Lucado:

“God knows that we are only pilgrims and that eternity
is so close that any “Good-bye” is, in reality, a
“See you tomorrow”.

 

 

 

 

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7 May

 

My ways are not your ways neither are your thoughts my thoughts-2

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Reflecting on Mother’s Day

20 May

Once again, we are blessed to have a post from Patricia Franklin. She is reflecting on her Mother’s Day experience this year. It touched my heart, I hope it touches yours too~Onisha

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

Mother’s Day – always a special day, especially when you don’t have any special expectations, but enjoy the blessings that come with the day. 
 Mine was great, simply because I got phone calls from all of my children — a rarity for me.  The boys usually call, but my daughter does not get that privilege very often.  We had a winter storm here for Mother’s day and it was cold, windy, rainy and snowy.  So I decided we would go to a movie.  We went to see “Heaven is for Real.”  I loved it.  The theater was full and everyone was crying by the end.  
The elderly lady next to me was huge, had a big box of popcorn and a gigantic drink. She also had a big bag.  Don’t know how she fit it all into her tiny seat. She was with her adult son.  At one time I might have remarked on the way she looked, but I have learned for the most part to look at people’s hearts and not the exterior.  Maybe it is my age, or maybe it is that working at a crisis center for so long, I have learned to see people the way they are inside.
At the end of the movie, the woman turned to me and said that she lost her husband two years ago.  The tears were streaming down her face as she continued “My son said he had to go first to prepare a place for me.”  I said “The children know”  (as in the movie) …  “I don’t know why the world finds it so hard to believe … it is really very simple.”  I had to leave the theater then, or lose my husband in the crowd.  So I patted her on the shoulder and left. 
It was very crowded exiting the theater. Usually everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere else fast, but something was different with this crowd.  Everyone was smiling and friendly and unhurried, instead of pushing and shoving and in a hurry to get out into that busy world again.  What a beautiful experience.  If only we had more uplifting experiences like this in our lives, imagine what would happen.
We then went to a restaurant and had dinner next to a family with two little red headed boys.  The smallest boy turned around in his high chair, smiled and spoke to me like he knew me.  We enjoyed watching the family so much and I told the Mom so as I left.  The little boy was blowing kisses to me and I thought how quickly they grow and are gone. This family seemed to treasure these precious moments.  It was very nostalgic to me and made my Mother’s Day very special.   A beautiful, simple day filled with love and care.

 

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