I know you’ve heard the phrase, Count Your Blessings. Probably more than once. Been to church and sang the hymn. But then there comes a time when we have to apply it to our lives quite literally in order to get through the tough times.
Dewey Moede sent me a message the other day telling me that the Lord put it on his heart that I’m to write a Mother’s Day post for moms who can’t be with their sons. Immediately when I saw it I dismissed it, made excuses for it, and wrestled with God about it.
Frankly, I don’t want to write another Mother’s Day post. There are lots of people posting on Mother’s Day. I’ve read some of them – the happy, everything in life is perfect posts to the abused, child how do I celebrate Mother’s Day kind of posts.
Those are two extremes and my life falls in between. My life is not perfect and I have a good mother, so that is not hard for me. I am a mother, but I would not qualify for the perfect mom award.
But today I can say I shall count my blessings.
We are experiencing a season of transition in our lives. Our lives have been very hectic in preparation for this transition. We were moving along the path we believe the Lord led us on. But then — BAM! A door was slammed shut in our faces. My family is hurt and bruised from this situation. We’re still processing the shock of it because it was totally unexpected.
Yet, I saw something as my husband and I sat with our seventeen year old son, Chase, to explain the situation to him. Chase looked at me and said, “Mom, you have to trust God has a plan. You’re trying to fix it yourself and you need to trust Him. Ask Him what to do.”
Chase received his NHS Honor Cord for graduation.
Chase is encouraging me in the Word. Trust God.
But it doesn’t stop there. After that, Chase then wrapped his arms around me and prayed for me.
Knowing that my son knows the importance of trusting God when life gets tough and to pray for me is a blessing that I’m counting this Mother’s Day.
When circumstances are difficult, then we need to find the blessings and count them. It brought hope and joy to my broken situation.
Another blessing I count is knowing that my oldest son, Stephen loves the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might. Though circumstances led him to prison, he shares his sold out faith with me each time we talk on the phone and in his letters. Stephen witnesses to others in prison and it has led to the salvation of the lost who otherwise may never be reached.
I count my blessings. How about you–what blessings do you have to count today?
Thank you for sharing this message Shonda. I can totally relate to your feelings. Honestly and truly if I didn’t have the Lord in my life and good Christian friends like the ones at FGGAM I would be an emotion mess. Thank you so much to everyone connected to this ministry. All of you have been a huge blessing to me and my family. May the Lord continue to bless this ministry and everyone involved with FGGAM.