A Mother's Day

Proverbs 31:25-28
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Today marks another first…The first Mothers Day since Amy’s passing. As you can imagine, it’s been a rather solemn day. Please keep the kids in your thoughts and prayers as everywhere they’ve turned for the past 3 weeks, they’ve been constantly reminded of the absence of their mother. I wonder what must have gone through Vinny and Hope’s minds as their teachers had the kids prepare Mother’s Day projects and gifts over the past week or so…Today Brittany sang in church with the Youth Praise Team. As she sang, tears streamed down her cheeks, but she pressed on. I wonder if she realizes the example of strength, perseverance and servitude she provided to so many today.
Amy was a wonderful mother. She loved and cared for her children and self-sacrificially placed them and their needs before hers on a continual basis. Even near the end, her concern was not for herself as much as for her children and how would they carry on. She was a fairly strict disciplinarian and demanded a lot out of her kids, but it certainly wasn’t for her own betterment. She cared and loved them enough to press them…to challenge them to be better…to strive for their dreams and to let no one tell them they can’t succeed or aren’t good enough…also to ‘toe the line’ as it were, in order that as they grew older, they would adhere to the lessons learned through trial and error…discipline and praise. And as one by one, they leave the shelter and protection of our home, the sense of right and wrong…what’s acceptable and what should be avoided, will be instilled deep in their character. The job’s not finished, but Amy’s portion is…and I must carry on.

Vince

Grace...wow! what a concept!

Most of us work for the weekend and once it’s here, we play hard, get things done around the house or simply run errands that you weren’t able to do during the week. Sometimes our weekends are busier than our work weeks as was for the kids and I this past weekend!
It started with Friday as our church’s annual Men’s Camp out started and lasted through Sunday afternoon! I usually get out of work a little early, pick up the boys and head on out to the camp grounds, but this year was a little more complicated as Brittany was gone getting her nails done (I’ll explain later) and Trevor was at Everblades (church youth group) until 5:30pm. So, when 5:30 rolled around and Brittany wasn’t back yet, I took the little ones and went to pick up Trevor. On the way back home, we took a small detour and went to visit Amy’s gravesite. On the way home Friday, as I drove past the cemetery, it was there…The headstone was finished and put up and I wanted to take the kids up to see it. They did a fantastic job and its right near the road so no one will EVER miss it. So, the boys and I eventually made it out to the camp grounds and although it sprinkled, we had a great time! I couldn’t stay the entire weekend because Saturday was Brittany’s prom! She looked amazing…my daughter, the young woman that she is, looked incredible and Amy would have been proud! Several of the parents got together and rented a limo to take the group of kids to and from prom…in style! It was fun to see these kids…these young adults really, dressed to the hilt. One of the parents pulled me aside and said that this marks the beginning and I asked her what she meant and she told me that from here on, the time will fly past until graduation and then they’re gone…out of the house. That this summer with senior pictures, ACT/SAT’s just starts the race to the finish line…college applications, scholarship applications, cap and gown…graduation…the time is fast approaching and there isn’t a thing I can do to slow it down. The thought really puts things into perspective for me…she’ll always be my girlie…but she isn’t a little girl any longer. Sigh…Amy’s mother and older sister came up to help Brittany and be here for her and I just wanted to say thank you to both of them for taking time away from their own families and busy lives to come. We really appreciated your presence.

We ALL are sinners in need of grace…strugglers in need of strength. Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Forgive us our debits…and lead us not into temptation.’ We’ve all made mistakes and all of us will continue to make more. The line that separates the best of us from the worst of us is a narrow one, hence we’d be wise to take Paul’s admonition seriously: Why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you think you are better than they? Won’t we ALL stand before the Lord and be judged?
Your sister would like me to remind you that she NEEDS grace…Just like you need forgiveness, so does she. There comes a time in every relationship when it’s damaging to seek justice, when settling the score only stirs the fire. There comes a time when the BEST thing you can do is to except your brother and offer him the same grace you have been given….

Vince