May 6 Celebrate those who love you!

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isn’t it a parent’s job to train their children in the right way to go? There is a book which is entitled “Everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten.” We learn the basics on which we build in the very beginning. Do we tell the truth? Do we share? Do we speak kindly? Why? Because Mom taught us how when we were very young.

Today is my Mom’s birthday. I was a miracle baby. Mom had a lot of difficulty delivering David, my older brother. Doctors told her she could never have another child. Surprise! She did not know she was pregnant but there I was. God called me to her for some reason and purpose and it is up to me to figure that out. It has taken a long time but encouraging people keeps coming to the forefront. Our world is discouraging. Everyone is telling you what’s wrong and what you cannot do and it is taking its toll. My Mom had a very critical parent and it clouded her world vision. She was led to believe that she was limited. She also faced challenges that would have stopped others. She is a Holocaust survivor. Because of all the negative stuff in her life, she has a negative slant on her world view. Sometimes, she reverts back into negativity in our relationship. It is hard for her to be positive and hopeful. A person cannot give what they don’t have to give. In spite of that, she taught us how to love and care for others and to love God. Trudy Springer raised two boys who are making a difference in the world in which they live. We were taught that we could! The expectation was set. Mom wanted David and me to make our world a better place; a place of justice and mercy. A place where people are told they are loved.

How does a person who has seen all that horror survive? By God’s Spirit alone! No, my Mom is not perfect. No one is! But she is a reflection of our Heavenly Father. She has always loved us and taught us the way we should go. She does go negative on me from time to time but I call her out on it. I choose joy over sorrow and happiness over bitterness. I choose to look out the windshield of the future rather than the rear view mirror of the past. Very bad things have happened in the past! I would be a fool to deny that fact. In light of those things, I choose to look toward God’s grace and let His light shine in our lives. In the brightness of that light, you cannot see the shadows of all those bad things. Celebrate those who love you. I told Mom “as long as you keep having Birthdays, we will keep having parties.” In her nineties, she is finally learning to celebrate! Happy Birthday Mom! I love ya!

Lord, thank You for teaching parents how to love us. We love because You first loved us. You are the source of all love. Thank You that you placed me in a loving and affectionate home where Your love was reflected and taught. Help us to all go out and love our neighbors as ourselves. Guide us in ways that will make our world a better place. In Your name we pray.

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