Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my friends who don't have a child's neck to hug today or a sweet little cheek to kiss. You're a mom still the same. A brave mom. You are loved.

This is what I read in my HOPE book today. It is fitting for this day, a bitter-sweet day for us.


The title is called "The Shadow of Death"

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

"Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse was one of America's great preachers. His first wife died from cancer when she was in her thirties, leaving behind three children under the age of twelve. Dr. Barnhouse was driving home from the funeral service with his his children when a huge truck stopped next to them at a traffic light, blocking the sunlight and covering the car with its shadow. He turned to his children and said, 'Death is like that. It blocks the sunshine, but the sun is still shining.'

The difference bewteen walking into death and walking in the shadow of death is the difference between finality and a new beginning forever.
It is the difference between nothingness and fullness of joy and life.
It is the difference between destruction and re-creation for the future.
It is ultimately the difference between the darkness of eternal separation from God and the blazing glory of everlasting enjoyment of his presence.

There is no doubt that a shadow is a dark place to be. But when the Lord is our shepherd, we no longer have to fear the dark places that death takes us. In the shadows we reach out to find him beside us, and the fear of the unknown fades. When he gently uses his rod of correction to prod us in the right direction and his staff of compassion to draw us close, we find comfort.

When we are in the fold of God, death is impotent to destroy us. It is depleted of its evil power. The valley where we encounter death is transformed into a place of peaceful comfort; it is in this valley that we are more aware of God's presence than ever before."


There is little anyone can say to us to comfort us today. Our hearts hurt way more than we can describe with our words. And while we feel like this "shadow of death" has persisted way too long & too harshly, God is still good to us. The truth is that He loves us & has good plans in store for us. May we believe that with every cell in our body.


John 6:39 "Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'"