"Happy Mother's Day!"

Reflections4Life™ May 10, 2020

“Happy Mother’s Day!”

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31: 26-27

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 31; Ephesians 5...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, and mothers to be. To all the mothers who have gone on to heaven; we celebrate with joy and treasured memories all the love, lessons, and the legacies you left for us to treasure! We honor you.

This is my fifth Mother's Day without my Mom. Yes. It still hurts, but it is not as bad as it has been years past, and I can only attribute that to the fact that she is still with me. In my heart. In my spirit. In my everyday life. She is here. More than a memory. She is here because her love never left.

I decree that today's Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it to be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. May your life know the power of a mother's love. Cherish those women that God has bought into your life. Be it biological or surrogate. Take advantage of the gift, and apply the lessons of that love to your life.

If I could choose a lesson my mom gave to her children that has had a profound impact, it would be a strength. My mother showed us every day of her life what love strength looked like. And the power it had to change lives.

This Reflection is dedicated to my Mother. Pastor Patricia Harris.

"Remembering My Queen & The Lessons She is Still Teaching Me from Heaven"

Long title; I know. But simple words and short summaries could never do justice to the woman my Mom was on this earth. And the title is not a misprint—my mother is STILL teaching me lessons each and every day on love, life, prayer, relationships, and so many other things. What I learned the most? Read on to find out...

STRENGTH

This is my Mom. She taught me just about everything I know about being a strong woman. About, coming back stronger after being down for so long. About overcoming obstacles and triumphantly destroying the plans of the enemy. She taught me about prayer and how to pray. She taught me how to forgive and to love unconditionally.

This is my Mama. My friend. My heart. The woman who showed me that nothing is impossible for God. That you can indeed overcome when everyone else has counted you out. To stand in my convictions and not back down. To hold onto what I believed and to go after God tenaciously, and that it is okay to remind God of His promises, and to definitely ask the question why.

This is my Mother. Who loved me better than anyone. Who prayed for me when I couldn't pray for myself. I didn't have to say a word. She just knew. She listened, while I was silent or cried. Afterward, she lifted me up in prayer, not commenting on anything I just shared. She understood, I just needed my mother's ear.

This is my Mommy. Who left this earth too soon for my comfort. I thought, leaving me without my intercessor, my prayer warrior, my encourager, my teacher, my mother, my friend. What was I to do? It hurt so bad. And it still does. But I realized; it was just the flesh that left, but not her love and spirit, nor her strength.

This is my Teacher. Who taught me strength just by being who she was. Her life was a testament of strength and of irreproachable character. She was far from perfect, and she owned it. Never did she hide the truth about who she was and what she did, to the point it felt that I knew too much! But she was honest and wanted you to know, that whatever you faced, you could get through it too.

I hope there is someone in your life that you can always turn to and have a source of strength to glean from. I hope that you cherish every lesson, admonishment, and correction that they have to give. Because it is all a part of teaching you to stand and be strong; becoming the person God has already said you are.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. May your life be blessed with the power of a mother's love. Cherish every moment you have. Take the lessons, apply them to your life, and let the love guide you. You are blessed. Now go and be a blessing. 

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"One of God's Greatest Gifts"

Reflections4Life™ May 12, 2019

“One of God's Greatest Gifts”

“Therefore it came to pass when the time had come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son and called his name Samuel [that is, Asked of God], saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:20

Scripture Contemplation: 1 Samuel 1; 2; Lamentations 2; Mark 10; 1 Timothy 5...

©Ruthe McDonald.

Happy Mother's Day to every woman that has nurtured, loved, cared for, attended to children, whether they were yours biologically or not. I honor you this day and pray the blessings of God to continue to manifest in your life. May your children rise up and call you blessed.

I sincerely believe that one of God's greatest wonders is not only the entire gestation process of pregnancy. (It is fascinating how a woman's womb can hold and sustain life within her body.) Birth, also, is definitely a miracle, as is the mother's strength to endure labor. However, it is the heart and strength of a mother that is and how God created the mother’s heart.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be encouraged in the word and promises of God. No matter where your life has taken you, what journey you started on, it will be God's strength and love that will see you through. You are a gift of God. Your presence on this earth is not an accident. It is a divine purpose.

If there is one thing that I long for most on this earth, it is to be a mother. I can identify with Hannah. The ache and need in your heart and spirit so strong, that when you pray and cry out to the Lord, no words can come forth, because they're all being said from the deepest core of your spirit. I have mothered many children. I love and cherish each one with no regrets. However, like Hannah, I will believe in the promises of God, knowing that my blessings will soon manifest.

It is a God-thing to see the heart and strength of a mother in action. That, love that exudes forth from her soul for her children. There are some women, who have given birth and are not mothers. They are, removed from what God intended. So, it is in the world. Thank God, for the women that can step in, and fill those gaps and tend to the wounds and broken spirits and hearts of those children that have been abandoned and/or abused.

There is nothing greater than a mother's love (other than that of our heavenly Father.) A mother's love can bring healing, comfort, strength, direction, correction, discipline, and inspiration. Lives change when a woman dares to love with such strength and abandonment. When, she loves from a place deep in her soul, and looks pass situations, circumstances, and parentage.

The moment you give your time and love to a child; whether or not they came from you—as a mother you are changing a life forever. You may never know the impact you have on the lives of a child that was under your influence. Sometimes, they grow up, move on, and live their lives. But rest assured, God knows. He has taken account of every act of love you poured from your heart.

I had the fortunate opportunity of having women in my life that let me know just how powerful a mother's love could be. It shaped who I am, and who I desire to be as a mother. My mother and I have had our shares of ups and downs (as mothers and daughters often do!) Yet, I knew from the beginning how strong my mother's love was for me and my brothers. Even as a foster mother and adoptive mother, she never held back. She was blessed, and I honor her, for all she did for me, even as a grown woman. Including her prayers, that God will still honor, although she has transitioned.

Proverbs 31:28-29 28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:29 Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.

There is no way to truly explain what happens to your heart when you become a mother. There really are no words to explain when you lose your mother or a mother loses a child. However, it is the love that will always be present. The strength of that love, that keeps one going. For everyone that may have lost their mother, I extend my prayers and thoughts to you. I encourage you to continue to celebrate your Mom. For as long as you are on this earth, she will be present. Mothers who may have lost a child, you don't stop being a mother—your heart is too big and filled with love for that. I pray for your heart and speak life into you. And pray that you will be able to share that love with others who could benefit from a mother's love.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. May the grace of God continue to fill you and your hearts be filled with His joy and laughter. There is something mighty special about the heart of a woman who can give and receive love. Whether a child is biological or not, it is one of God's greatest gifts—to see a Mother's love in action. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"The Power of a Mother's Love"

Reflections4Life May 10, 2015

"The Power of a Mother's Love."

    "She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31: 26-27

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 31; Ephesians 5...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, and mothers to be. R.I.P to all the mothers who have gone on to heaven.

This is my first Mother's day without my Mom. Yes. It hurts, but it is not as bad as I thought it would be, and I can only attribute that to the fact that she is still with me. In my heart. In my spirit. In my everyday life. She is here. More than a memory. She is here, because her love never left.

I pray today's Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it to be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. May your life know the power of a mother's love. Cherish those women that God has bought into your life. Be it biological or surrogate. Take advantage of the gift, and apply the lessons of that love to your life.

If I could choose one lesson my mom gave to her children that has had the most impact, it would be the power of love. My mother showed us everyday of her life what love--unconditional love--looked liked. And the power it had to touch and change lives.

Our mother was a nurturer at best. Always reaching out to others. Always providing and taking people in. Being the mother to so many of our friends and neighborhood kids.

There was no one beneath her. No child to difficult. No situation too taboo, that would keep our mom from showing love. And in doing so, we witnessed the power of love in the transformed lives of those she touched. Not just them, but also their families and friends.

There is power in love. Power in unconditional love. The power to transform the hardest of hearts. The power to tame the harshest of beasts. The power to renew and revive a life on the brink of death.

Yes. Love is powerful. Especially the love of a mother. There is no comparison, in my opinion, of that of a mother's love. That love that reaches out to you even when you have fallen so low and feel like you can't get back up. That love that tells you, you can always come back home when you're ready to. That love that says, no matter how much you screw up, how far you fall, there will be someone right there to love you back through it all.

We were blessed to have the mother we had. It was quite an adventure. There is no doubt in our minds, that our mother's love was a direct reflection of God in her. We were blessed and fortunate to know just how loved we were and are. And so were our friends and family.

There is definitely power in love. Are you strong enough to walk in it? Can you handle its costs? Because what I know for sure: love like this is not simple and it can sometime hurt those who possess it.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. May your life be blessed with the power of a mother's love. Cherish every moment you have. Take the lessons, apply them to your life, and let the love guide you. You are blessed. Now go and be a blessing. 

©2015. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.