May means Mother’s Day. I am blessed to be the mom to four amazing grown-ups, 3 bonus kids by marriage and 3.5 grandbabies. I was also blessed with a strong and faith filled Momma. I know not everyone has this feeling or relationship with their parents or children, but I am incredibly fortunate to have both. Being a mom and grandma is one of the largest joys of my life. But it isn’t all sunshine and roses, sometimes being a mom is painful.

When I saw the movie The Passion of the Christ, I was so moved by the portrayal of Mary the mother of Jesus. There is a scene when Jesus is carrying the cross and falls on the road. The movie shows a flashback to Jesus’ childhood where He is running and falls and skins his knee. Most of us have experienced this – either as a child or a parent. We can feel the pain from memory. And we can feel the relief of being scooped up in the arms of our parent and feel the comfort that comes from their hand. This was a moment in that movie that I felt so moved. Moved by the love of a mother for her child and moved by the love of a Heavenly Father would take such extravagant measures to save not only his own mother, but the whole of eternity. And me.

God our Father wants so much to hold us. He wants to carry us, pick us up when we fall…like any good parent would. When King David feels alone, he laments in Psalm 22:1 that God had abandoned him. This is the same Psalm that Jesus quotes from the cross. Later in Psalm 22:19, David corrects his earlier thinking and states “But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.” Psalm 23 follows – perhaps the most well-known of the psalms of David – where he calls the Lord our shepherd.

If you know sheep, you know being called a sheep isn’t a compliment. A shepherd needs to keep the sheep from doing things that get them into trouble or harm them, guards them from predators because they have no ability to defend themselves, cares for them if they get hurt and makes them move to places where they can get food and water. Wait, the sheep does sound like me. God must continually defend me, keep me from harm and take me to greener pastures
(even when I am really comfortable in the brown, dead pasture I am in). Yeah, my mom was pretty good at those things too.

Take some time this month to thank the people who have helped shape you, defended you, fed you, helped you when you fell, picked you up when you skinned your knee – or worse. It might be your mom, an aunt, grandmother, or friend. Your person may already be a resident of heaven. Regardless, you can thank God for that person and for the provision and guidance they gave. If they’re still here, make sure they know how much you appreciate them and all they’ve done.

My momma has been in heaven for 2 years. There are a lot of days that I think of her and wish I could have conversation about something. And sometimes we do. I believe that she knew how much she was loved and appreciated. I have thanked God many times. This month, I will thank Him again. I hope you will take some time to do the same.

In loving service,

Kathy Hull