Lessons from my Mother

I will never be able to repay the best gift that God has given me apart from himself.

But it won’t be for lack of trying.

Today is my mother’s birthday and she is hands down no competition the greatest gift God has placed in my life.

I know, I know…you think I’m just saying that because I couldn’t figure out what to get her. I would have sent flowers, but she would have accused me of spending too much on a bouquet that she could have gotten for cheaper. And I could have sent her a TJ Maxx gift certificate, but gimme a break, I’m trying to be original.

So I thought I’d share the 5 greatest lessons my mom has ever taught me.

1. You don’t have to be rich to look your best. I don’t think my mother has ever bought herself anything for full price, and I’m not exaggerating. I have seen her look like a queen for an outfit that cost her under $20. And just because you love Jesus doesn’t mean you have to wear sackcloths and ashes. She is one of the Godliest and one of the best dressed women I know. Her favorite show: What not to Wear. Enough said.

2. Faithfulness is more important than success. Biblically speaking, faithfulness is success, but in a society that values results and growth and all that jazz, my mother has consistently taught me that what God is most interested in is my faithfulness. Here’s her definition of faithfulness: long obedience in the right direction. She has exemplified this principle in her life and continues to remind me that what matters most is not how I begin but how my journey with the Lord ends.

3. Growth happens little by little. I was in my 20s and just starting to seriously grow in my walk with the Lord and in teaching His word when my mother shared a verse from Isaiah 28:13 that has rocked my world. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount of material in the Bible and the responsibility as a teacher to know it all. Listen to the verse in Is 28:13 – “and the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”. Growth happens in baby steps. I’m thankful for that lesson.

4. God must be Big, and people small. Here’s another life verse that was instilled in my heart early on: Proverbs 29:25 – “The fear of man brings a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe”. Without a doubt this continues to be a principle that the Lord reminds me of and encourages me with. He is the only audience I must honor and worship and seek after. He is the only one deserving all of the glory for everything that I do. Not many people know my mother but the only one who matters does. She has an audience with Him every morning and on sleepless nights. I love that about her.

5. God is Sovereign over the affairs of man. Call her a Calvinist, call her a reform theologian, call her anything you want, but I call her Biblical! My mother taught me that God is over all and knows all. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval. Nothing escapes His notice. My past is part of His plan, my present is His doing, and my future is His to shape. Check this from Isaiah 45:7 (God speaking): “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does ALL these things”. Wow.

I could go on with more lessons.  I could talk about her example of spending hours in the Word of God daily. I could discuss her reminding me of God’s method for my growth into Christlikeness using suffering. I could go on and on and on.

And she’d say: enough. Spend your time in the Word instead.

So I will. Meanwhile, why don’t you leave my mother – Leila, or Milo – a birthday wish in the comments section!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Related posts: