All For Love
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.†~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
Before I share my ‘heart-breaking’ Mother’s Day with you, I want you to promise me that you don’t feel sorry for me—because it is all good…really.
Well, our son forgot Mother’s Day. No kiss, no hug, no flowers, no “I love you, Momâ€. Yes, I was a little heart-broken, but it was God’s way to give me an object lesson. As I was ironing, I was thinking about all the sacrifices I had made over the years for our son. How I was running him everywhere (still do). How I didn’t do the things I wanted to do, because of our son’s schedule…
God put a quick stop to my self-pity-party. He reminded me of the time He made the biggest sacrifice because of me—He took my sin with Him to Calvary…
My (current) favorite song by Hillsong came to mind—“All for Loveâ€â€¦The words really cut to my heart…
“All for love the Father gave
For only love could make a way
All for love the heavens cried
For love was crucified…Oh how many times have I broken Your heart but still You forgive If only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray Draw near to me…â€
How many times have I broken my Father’s heart, because I was disobedient? How many times was He sad because I didn’t thank Him properly as He answered my prayers? How long did He have to call my name into the desert before I answered His call? But He never stopped loving me—no matter what!
Will I stop loving our son, because he forgot Mother’s Day? Will I no longer make ‘sacrifices’ because he didn’t get me flowers on the special day set aside for mothers? No, of course not! I love him—no matter what!
I got flowers after all…my Sweetheart got me two mini rose plants. Yeah, I had a great Mother’s day, including an object lesson from our Heavenly Father. I hope yours was just as great as mine.
Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for Your forgiveness. I am sorry for all the times I have broken Your heart. Thank You for Your perfect love. Lord, teach me Your perfect love…In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.
God bless your hurting heart my dear friend, I love you.
Iris,I love you…
Iris, God bless your heart. You have a great learning attitude. Love you, girlfriend!
I SO needed to hear that today Iris. Hugs.
Hi Iris,
Sometimes through our heartbreak we learn the best lessons, don’t we? I’m glad that you had a good mothers’ day in spite of your son forgetting. Thanks for sharing your lesson learned with us.
Hugs
Iris,
Me too. and today is my birthday and my son will forget that as well. But I really am not sad either. You wrote this message just for me today. Thank you.
The job of mom has been the best object lesson for me in “laying down my life”. It seems like children are a gift from God to this end. I pray I can do this gracefully, with God’s help. Blessings on you.
Praise GOD Iris. Sooooo true. God bless your mothers heart! love you.
Perfect anti-spam word!!!!!!
Iris, our youngest forgot too and I was also disappointed so this is a wonderful lesson for me as well. Thank you for being transparent!
Your lesson speaks loud and clear. Everyday is to be the Lord’s day and yet how many times do I rush through it and forget to spend time really acknowledging Him? Too many I am afraid.
Isn’t it great when we realize we have been taught something straight from the hand of God?
Love ya girl!
Thanks for letting God teach through your life.
Oh Iris,
I have so been in your shoes. In fact, my post about Mother’s Day reflects just such a Mother’s Day. After a decade or more of lost Mother’s Day with my prodigal (a.k.a. miracle-in-progress), this Mother’s Day was more than wonderful!
Yes, as I wrote to another friend, who spent this Mother’s Day with her son who nearly died of a drug overdose, several times, and had not spent Mother’s Day with her for so long–somehow, we need the losses of life to fully understand the eternal gain we can experience when we place each of our days in the Saviors Hands.
God Bless you for sharing this heartfelt post…and directing us, once again, to the Father’s love. It is the only perfect love!
Diane
Thanks for sharing your story, Iris. I know the only reason why my kids “remembered” is because their teachers in school helped them make cards and little gifts. But when we homeschooled, nobody remembered!
I was disappointed that my husband didn’t do anything special for me — no card or anything. We were busy all weekend, had company, people everywhere. He said he just didn’t have a chance to get to the store.
Well, I could get bitter about this — but I’ve tried to put all my hope in Jesus, instead of in people. He never disappoints us!
Thanks for giving me a quiet little place to “vent.” You’re not alone! 🙂
love you!
You have a good attitude! Heather, I hear you loud and clear. It hurts to be an after thought or no thought at all. Thanks for the reminder that I’ve done that to God too. Now I feel bad for all my (silent) rants. 🙂
I’m sorry Iris. I’m sure he feels just terrible. I love your devotional. It really puts everything into perspective. You have a sweet, tender heart. I’m glad the day was good after all!!
I almost had a heart-breaking one too, but was saved at the last minute by the same thing you were, as well as a pretty yellow bathrobe. 🙂
It’s hard not to feel sorry for you Iris because I know this hurt your feelings. How like you to turn something like this into such a meaningful devotion.
I like the word I had to type in “Christ” that’s cool!
Brendan was like that with Mother’s day. He is the oldest and he didn’t even give me a card 🙁 Nothing. The other kids were all excited about it and gave me lots of gifts and hugs and kisses. But I had to remember that Brendan is like that all year round, he’s always giving me little surprises, or asking if I want a Pepsi, or asking for a hug, so like you, I say, “it’s all good.”
one more thing… I noticed what Heather said, and I agree! My kids got all excited about it because of school. I had to wonder if Brendan isn’t wired that way because he was homeschooled for most of his school life, and I didn’t make it a big deal like the school does. Hmmm…. I just happened to notice that post.
Very good message. I have to say, from a child’s perspective (taking off my mom hat) there is too much pressure over Mother’s day and Father’s day.
It’s good to have grace.
This took me back to yesterday and an incident involving my children and I. Not that I didn’t have a good Mother’s Day, I did. I was taken out to dinner at Red Lobster and as the children started ordering what THEY wanted, I changed my order (because of the price) and thus began some of the same thoughts about how I sacrifice for them. And wow, to come over here and get an awakening!! LOL Thanks for letting the Lord use you to minister to others!
great learning attitude… that is you, for sure.
Perhaps God is working with your son in ways we won’t understand..
Happy belated Mother’s Day – had a busy weekend (baby shower on Saturday, Mother’s Day and my daughers birthday on Sunday).
It is sad your son did not acknowkedge you on mothers day… A very dear friend of mine has a daughter who has refused to acknowledge her as her mother forever..It is a very long story, and does not want to see her again, taking with her, her only grandchild. It is extremely heartbreaking for all concerned. The one consellation is the love her son has for her..and the love she has for God… So she was not alone on this special day.
As for my day I am great full to have a good relationship with my children.
You deserve to be honored, Iris. Happy Mother’s Day. I never cease to be amazed by all God teached me through being a mom. Whenever I get annoyed at my children for something– like not being thankful– I remember how ungrateful I am at times. It makes me think about how I hurt my heavenly Father’s heart. Having children helps us understand Him better.
I am so sorry that he forgot you! Thank you for teaching us that lesson though….I know that it is something I need to remember constantly.
Love in Christ,
~Candi (Homekeeper at Heart)
This is a beautiful post of the way we should react to all. Yes, I have had similar problems with my men, but should focus on Christ instead as you do.