Four years ago today, my beloved mother passed away. I honestly can't believe she has been gone that long! I think about her almost everyday, and I miss her dearly!
I'm writing this post today to encourage you to reflect on the things that matter most in your life because we are not promised another day. Scripture encourages us to "number our days." From personal experience, I want to exhort you to place your relationships at the top of your priority list. My mom set a wonderful example of this for me. She valued important relationships!
1. Mom valued her relationship with the Lord. She spent time in God's Word and in prayer daily. She read study Bibles, books on prayer, and other resources to strengthen this important relationship in her life. On numerous occasions, she would question me about my walk with the Lord, and when I revealed that it was lacking, she would encourage me to walk with God. Mom valued her relationship with the Lord.
2. Mom valued her relationship with her husband. My mother let me know fairly early in my life that while she loved me dearly, her primary responsibility was to her husband. It wasn't that she liked my Dad more than me, but she understood that a strong marriage relationship meant a strong family.
I will say this as plain as I can without sounding harsh, but my parents did not design their lives around my wants, desires, and sports schedules. Her husband (my Father) and our family were too important to be sacrificed on those altars. Mom and Dad went to couple's retreats, vacations (both with and without the kids), walks, and dates. They spent time together because Mom valued her relationship with her husband.
She worked in the business world, and while business lunches were common, Mom refused to go to lunch alone with another man. That may sound old fashioned, but Mom built fences around her relationship with her husband because she valued it!
3. Mom valued her relationship with her kids. Above, I mentioned that my parents did not design their lives around me, but that doesn't mean that they weren't present at my baseball, basketball, and soccer games. Honestly, my Mom was the loudest person in the entire gym, and I am not exaggerating about this point. She loved cheering for me, and even though I may have been slightly embarrassed at times, I'd give anything to hear those cheers one more time.
Mom studied with me, encouraged me, read to me, prayed with me, disciplined me, and above all she loved me and pointed me to Christ. I had such a wonderful relationship with her! She valued her relationship with me and yes, even my sister.
With all of those things, Mom And Dad also sacrificed for me so that I could attend Christian school from kindergarten all the way through grade 12. I am eternally grateful for the biblically based education that I received!
4. Mom valued her relationship with her church family. Church attendance and involvement at church were not options. Through her days, Mom worked in our church's children's and women's ministries and was a faithful member at our tiny, inner-city church..
5. Mom valued her relationship with her mother. My Mom's upbringing was not the best, in fact, it was awful. However, through God's grace, Mom was able to overcome her negative feelings about her upbringing, and as an adult, Mom honored my Grandmother by the way my Mom conducted her life and respected her mother.
I could go on for pages, but I'm pretty sure you get the idea. Mom valued relationships, I must value relationships, and so should you. Today, as I reflect on the passing of my Mom, four years seems like such a long time yet it seems like such a short time. So much has happened in four years, yet time has just flown by. I take comfort in knowing that I will see her one day in heaven because I do not need to sorrow as "those who have no hope."
What do you value most? I trust that it is more than your material possession. I pray it is the relationships in your life just like my Mom!
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12
See you soon Mom!