Mother's Day

I hardly know what to feel or how to act this Mother’s Day,
Because for the first time on this special day, I am motherless.
I can’t give Mama a gift or send a card, as I used to do.
Neither can I talk with her or give her a tender caress.

Our earthly time together ended on January 9, 2011,
The day she was called to her Heavenly Home.
Although I’m thankful she’s been set free from her sufferings,
I can’t help missing her and feeling sad and alone.

But I’m also grateful for the 63 years we had together.
I’m thankful we loved and cherished each other always.
I’m glad I hugged her often and honored her in life at every opportunity.
I promise to continue to pay tribute to her all the rest of my days.

Because Mother taught me so many, many things,
Hardly a day goes by that I do not think of something she said to me.
Although she’s dead and, thus, can no longer speak or act,
Her previous words and action still guide me tenderly.

The mother/child relationship—what a treasure!
No wonder its ending causes such sorrow.
But this thought consoles me as I grieve:
A reunion is coming—one glad tomorrow.

© May 8, 2011, by Johnnie Ann Burgess Gaskill, www.jgaskill.com.

Divine Appointment

Over 150,000 people
Had a divine appointment today
Nameless and faceless to most
But each is known by God
The One to Whom we must give an account

The date of that divine appointment
Was set long before we took our first breath
The One who formed us in our mother’s womb
Measured our days and scheduled the appointment
The day and the hour when we will take our last breath

In the Bible
God counsels us
To number our days
He warns us that it is appointed for man to die once
Then comes judgment

There are no second chances
There are no mulligans to be claimed
Though all will stand before God one day
Not all paths will end in heaven
For some another place has been reserved

For those who have rejected God
All of their days
Those who have worshipped a god
Of their own making
They will spend eternity separated from God’s presence

And such were some of us
Until the Son of Man
Set us free
From the bondage of sin and death
He put us on the narrow path

We found there is but One Way to salvation
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
If you confess with your mouth
And believe with your heart
You will be saved!


Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 26, 2009