Birthdays tomorrow

So tomorrow my darling mama turns 63 and I know I have a busy Monday so thought I would wish her today instead.  I love having a young mother and she's a great one.   And no, its not just my bias, my friends have always loved my mom too and now even my kids' friends love 'their' Mimi.

The past 3 years have been incredibly difficult for my mother.  Somehow she sailed along till 60 with the odd bit of bad weather and only the rare not too scary storm.  The storms were caused by her 4 kids and we all gave her heartache whenever our own hearts would ache or break.   She turned 60 in November and by the next month, she was diagnosed with cancer after a hectic op and so began the nightmare of chemo and treatment.   Les than a year later we had my dad have his trip bi-pass, 2 heart attacks and the stroke that has forever changed our family.  Ironically all that a month after his 60th too actually!

This year has been the hardest of all and they say our true colours come out when crises hits.  What do we exhibit when life kicks us in the teeth so hard our everything shatters?    Bitterness or self-pity or anger or depression or paralysis?  Un-forgiveness and revenge?   Who are we really under our polite day faces?  Well she might have gone through some of these feelings but they were so fleeting that her true colours quickly emerged.    What an incredible strong lady my mother is.  Full of class and compassion giving grace when none was deserved.  My love has been a given and could grow no larger than it already is.  My respect and admiration however, well that has increased ten fold.   God has carried my mom and she has often felt His silence when she was desperate for a word.   I believe He stayed silent as His daughter was doing and being all she needed to be.   This past week was the first time she heard His voice with a message she needed to hear.  Just one word spoken by a complete stranger that had no relevance to their conversation yet we knew it was a God thing.   Amazing!

Tomorrow is also my Christian birthday and I time where I reflect on my walk with God.   Twelve years of working out my salvation.   Sometimes I get it wrong and often I get it right but I am forever grateful for the love and acceptance and grace of God through Jesus.  If you can get past the bullshit that seems to discolour the true msg of the gospel and be sincere in your walk with Him you will really find a life that is filled with meaning and passion and love that really does cover the proverbial multitude of sins.   My scripture of late has been: Return to me the joy of my salvation.  (Somewhere in bible, don't ask me where)   I feel like I am back at that place where I first fell in love and couldn't believe that someone like me could call themselves a Christian.   I can and I am.  I don't have to do anything and even things I do that I shouldn't does not disqualify me.   Love and be loved, be the best person I know how, chase after God and seek Him in all I do, live what I believe and be real.  

I feel hugely blessed to have the mother I have and a God big enough to encompass all I am warts and all.  Happy birthday Bella Mama and happy bday to clapper me!

Gorg Mimi on our unforgettable Singapore and Thailand holiday this year.  We'll go again Mom so if you wake up and its a wobble day, then think back to this day and think forward to our future travels with many days like this one.

 

Comments

[A]

Happy birthday to mimi and to you! Your mom sounds like an inspirational lady who raised inspirational daughters :) May the year ahead be brighter than the last three!

[Missy]

Mel - this is such a touching and wonderful Mama post. I hope that my daughter might one day have as much praise for me as you do for your Mom. What a beautiful pic of Mimi too! Happy birthday Mimi and Happy CBD to you Mel. May your journeys continue with happiness, love, blessings and lots of joy!

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