Valentine's Day- Love one another

Valentine's Day is a few days away and it's a good time to tell the people in our lives how much we love them. I am grateful to share the day with my family but not everyone has a special person or people with whom they can enjoy the day.


This Valentine's will you consider taking a few minutes to make someone feel special, someone who might often be overlooked? We all have a story and we all have battles we fight every day. We never know what someone else is facing or how a kind word, smile or small gift might make a big impact.


A few years ago my neighbor lost her husband to a heart attack. We did not know them that well but we always said hello and waved when we saw them in their yard or on a walk. My heart broke for her when she suddenly lost her husband and found herself alone with two college aged sons.


The first year she was a widow my oldest son took her a bouquet of flowers with a note on Valentine's morning. It was a simple gesture and we just wanted her to know she was loved. God placed her on my heart that year and every year since one of my boys has taken her flowers on Valentine's morning.  I've never told anyone what we did and I have not spoken directly to her about it as we aren't looking for recognition. I'm writing about it now to give you an idea of what you could do for someone.


Do you know a widow, a single mom, the school crossing guard, the school lunch attendant, the cashier at Walgreens who always smiles when you check-out? Who is God placing on your heart today?


It does not have to be expensive or elaborate. A kind word and hug go a long way.


"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.


Grace and Peace,
Misty

A mama's heart knows...

A mama's heart is unique, it holds great wisdom, it's big and full of love for her children and it knows. It knows when her child needs her, it knows when her child is hurting, it knows when her child has something to celebrate and it also knows when she has to let her child fall down, learn and grow. Some call it intuition, or a gut feeling. I call it my mama's heart.

A mama's heart worries, it hurts, it silently cries for her children. It's unique by design. God gave children moms for very specific reasons and their hearts help them fulfill God's purpose. Luke wrote, “and his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:51

God tells us in Proverbs “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9 

My mama heart is hurting right now for other moms. Moms who have lost their children. My heart is broken in a million pieces for them. But yet there is still light among the broken pieces, because in Jesus there is always hope. 

I knew their children and my boys were friends with them. Precious Bailey Purkey was the lifeguard at our summer time pool and graduated high school with Bryce. Her brother Jake, is a good friend of my Drew's. Bailey traveled to Brazil for missions trips with Drew and was involved in youth group with both Bryce and Drew. God called her home at the young age of 21. A beautiful, kind, loving young lady now has a new home in heaven. I'll never understand why she had to suffer with cancer. But,God tells us this world is not our home. We are just passing through and Bailey touched many lives in this world. Maybe God knew it was time for her to fulfill her purpose with Him in heaven.  My mama's heart knows it is beautiful there. But, my heart still hurts for her family because I'm a mom and I can not even begin to imagine the sense of loss and heartbreak they are walking through. 

Clint McCollom was a good friend of my Drew's. Looking back. I realize God knew they needed each other and their paths crossed just two years ago when Drew met Clint his Junior year in high school. They had an instant connection and found solitude from the world at the skate park and driving in Clint's jeep with the top down. They were two young adults trying to figure it out, that age can be tough and they were walking alongside each other as friends. I'll never understand why he lost his life at age 19. Seems like it was just beginning, he was going down a great job path and was having success. From my understanding he had grown closer to Jesus in the days prior to his death. I never thought I would see my 18 year old son walking behind his 19 year old friends casket and help carry it to the hearse and speak at his friend's funeral. Maybe God knew it was a good time to call him home. I will never know why but I'm hanging on to the hope that Clint loved Jesus because I know his sweet family and friends will see him again. 

So, my "whys" will not be answered in this life. But God tells us over and over again in the bible that this world is not our home. 

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," Philippians 3:20

In John 16:33 Jesus says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” I am taking hope in the knowledge that He has overcome the world and all things work to the good for those who serve Him. 

I have been a new mom, a single mom, a working mom, a stay at home mom, a mom to three children in many of life phases, with the most recent college phase. I have not been a mom grieving the loss of my child. But my mama's heart knows they have a hole in their heart that will not be filled in this life and I will pray for them every day. I am devastated for them yet I see the light because the light is Jesus and in Him there is hope. 

#luvlivebig

Grace and Peace, 
Misty