Happy Mother's Day!

Today I remember the moms who are such an important part of my life. I think of my own mom, Anne, with whom we celebrated this past Friday. We remember Marilyn's mom Marie, who Marilyn is spending the weekend with in NC even as I type this. My dear friend Lisa Jewett is celebrating today with her mom and her two adult children. And all over the country countless other moms are spending today being reminded just how amazing they are. My prayers go out to all mothers everywhere- prayers of blessing and protection. My prayers also go out to all of you whose moms have gone to be with God. I know this day can be hard for you, and please know you are in my thoughts.

We never outgrow our need for our mothers. The needs may change, but they are ever-present. I think this says it so well:

A Mother…
When you’re a child she walks before you,
To set an example.
When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..
Author Unknown

Have a blessed and wonderful day all you moms out there. Consider this post to be one more hug just for you...

Because of Jesus,

"M is for the many things she gave me..."

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  I want to pause today and take a moment to thank God for the three women in my life who are incredible moms. First up is my own mother, Anne Jones.  She has never wavered in her support for me and my family, offering me unconditional love my entire life- despite my many screw-ups. She is pictured below with my wife Marilyn and her grandson Will.  he and Will could not be any closer. Mom, you are one of a kind, and I love you!

The second mother on my special list is my mother-in-law, Marie Steele. I love her like she was my own mother, and I am so grateful that she and her husband Posey welcomed me in to their family some 30 years ago when Marilyn and I started dating. She is pictured below on our wedding day when she gave me a great gift! I love you, Marie- and looking forward to seeing you soon!

And finally, you have all know about my amazing wife, Marilyn.  She is a wonderful mother and truly a heroic woman. She works so hard to keep our family afloat, and Will and I both love her her very much. She makes every day about our family- so today is all about her her!

And for all of you moms who may be reading today, I want to share some lyrics to a famous Mother's Day song as re-written by my old cohort Alan Brown and I many years ago.  In our own extremely odd way, we were seeking to let you know just how special you are...

M is for the MANY things she gave me...
O is for the OTHER things she gave me...
T is for THE things that she gave me...
H is for the HAPPY things she gave me...
E is for EVERYTHING she gave me...
R is for the REST of the things she gave me...
P is for the PLENTIFUL things she gave me...
Put it all together they spell MOTHERP (?)
A word that means the world to me!

Thank you, God, for all of our mothers. They do indeed give us everything, and they are truly a blessing!

Happy Mother's Day!

A Mother…
When you’re a child she walks before you,
To set an example.
When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..
Author Unknown

Mother's Day Prayers

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there, and especially to my mom, Anne Jones, my wife Marilyn Jones and her mom Marie Steele.  These special ladies are a huge part of my life, and I hope they all have blessed and happy days today.  I wish the same for all of the Moms who read this blog and touch my life in so many ways, especially the young moms who may be celebrating their first Mother's Day.  Yours is a valued and treasured role in the lives of your children, and I shall be praying each of you today.   You carry such a burden.  As Bill Cosby once said, "I may be listed as the head of household on the tax form, but that is a lie.  My wife is the head of this household.  Not only that, but I have seen her job- and I don't want it!"

But today is a special Mother's Day for a completely different reason, and I want to ask for your prayers as well.  When I was in Jr. High and High School back in the Guilford College community just outside of Greensboro, NC, my best friend was a guy named Steve Semmler. His older brother Carl became one of my best buddies as well.  I spent many hours and many nights in their house.  I ate many meals at their family table.  And their parents, Hank & Gene Semmler, always welcomed me.  They were a second set of parents for me during those very important years of my life.  I had actually known Mrs. Semmler the longest of any of them, having had her as a teacher for part of 4th grade, and she was never anything but kind to me.  My own parents were loving and wonderful, but it was still great to have a surrogate family that loved me too.

I have not seen any of the Semmler family in 6 years now, since my Dad's memorial service in May of 2006.  I talk to Steve on occasion and communicate with Carl through email, and I know that they both keep up with this blog.  I heard from Carl this week that Gene, who has been battling cancer for a while now, has taken a turn towards the end.  Hospice has been called in.  I tried to call Steve yesterday to see how she was doing at this time,  but didn't get him.  Regardless of her current status, I would be remiss if I let this Mother's Day pass without a public acknowledgement of how much she and her family meant to me, and how much impact their influence still has on my life.  My prayers are with the entire Semmler family, and I hope yours will be too.

May the love and grace of Jesus Christ be with all mothers everywhere today, offering them the strength and courage they need to carry out the awesome responsibility they have as the backbones of our families.  May God's love for mothers shine through each of us, today and every day.  

Because of Jesus,