Tandy reflects on a letter from Mom that reminds her what it was like to be raised by a wonderful mother. This leads Tandy to think about our letter from God.
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The Letter From Mom
I was blessed to be raised by a wonderful mother. There was never a moment when I doubted her love for me. Although my mom was much older than my friend’s mothers and had little in common with them, that was never an issue for me. She was fun and welcoming which made our home the one my friends wanted to gather in.
Mom didn’t work outside of the home but certainly wasn’t idle. Over the years she set a good example by volunteering at my school, in my brownie pack and any other events I was participating in. She also was an active member of a service organization. After rising through the leadership roles in her local chapter, she was nominated for a provincial role. One year, mom was even the head person in British Columbia and traveled the province, meeting other members and giving inspirational talks at each meeting. Throughout this, she remained humble and always put others before herself.
I Admired My Mom
To say I admired my mom and was proud of her would be a gross understatement. Her wisdom was undeniable and her humor and gentle spirit drew people in. The only thing that baffled me was mom’s lack of confidence. I wanted to follow in her footsteps and be just like her, only with more self-confidence.
Once I reached the age of about sixteen, my attitude started to change. I still loved my mom but began to doubt her wisdom. Her ideas seemed old fashioned and didn’t always fit with mine as I started exerting my independence. Out of respect I would pretend to listen, but I’m sure she knew I wasn’t always paying attention.
When I was eighteen, I fell in love and was soon engaged. The wedding was set for four months later, just after my nineteenth birthday. Amid wedding preparations and sorting through things to take with me when I moved away, I planned on disposing of mementos from my past. Why would I need any of that when I was starting a new, exciting life?
Marriage Plans
Mom cautioned me about this, saying my past was part of who I was, but I wouldn’t listen. She wanted to talk to me about marriage and getting through challenging times I may encounter. I figured she’d been married for so many years that she no longer remembered what it was like to be young and in love. My life would be perfect once married so why did I need to hear about struggles? It was very clear that I wasn’t going to pay attention to what she had to say.
In her vast wisdom, mom dropped the subject. I, in my ignorance, thought she had seen I was right.
A Letter From Mom
The night before my wedding, my mother handed me an envelope. Inside was a letter she’d written, sharing the wisdom I wouldn’t let her speak. I read it before tucking it away, certain it didn’t apply to me.
She knew it would there for me to refer to when I needed it. Mom didn’t give up on her rebellious child but reached out in love in the only way she thought might get through to me. As it turned out, the contents of her letter helped me navigate some rocky patches in my life. Even when my pride wouldn’t allow me to reach out and speak to her, the wisdom was available for me to read and learn from. My husband and I have just celebrated our forty-fifth anniversary and I still have the letter. It is tucked away with wedding memorabilia, and hasn’t been referred to in many years, but I know where to find it when I need to.
My mom passed away on Mother’s Day weekend, nineteen years ago and although I can no longer talk with her, I thank God regularly for the gift of a wise and loving mother.
A Letter from God
When I think of the letter she wrote, I am reminded of another letter written by a loving parent. God wrote us a letter outlining numerous things we would face in our lives. He told stories of many of his other rebellious children and the consequences they faced. The Bible contains wisdom for dealing with any situation we may encounter.
God knew he would always be there for us to talk to. He never fails to make the time to welcome us with open arms. He longs to share his wisdom and give us guidance for our lives. He also knows we often have too much pride to come to him. The free will he so generously gave us can make us think we have all the answers ourselves and don’t need help.
So, as a loving parent, he gave us many letters to refer to. They are all contained in the Bible, the greatest book of instruction we will ever have. I want to model myself after the example of unconditional love God has set. Over the years he has taught me that confidence doesn’t come from what I do, but from what I know God can accomplish in and through me. I thank him for his letter and I thank him for a mom who taught me the importance looking for wisdom in the written word.
Tandy Balson
Tandy Balson is a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, volunteer and observer of life. She is also a also a contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio. Contact us if you are a truth seeker and need some answers. Read and hear more from Tandy Balson on the contributor’s page or on her website, www.timewithtandy.com
Tandy’s show, “Time With Tandy” airs on HopeStreamRadio. In her program she reflects on spiritual lessons from her observations of life, to encourage and strengthen us in our faith.
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Images Courtesy Of:
Letter – Free-Photos
Woman Daydreaming – Photo by Nathaniel Flowers on Unsplash
Mom & daughter walking- Pasja100
Mom and Child – Tim Kraiijvanger
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