“Her children arise and call her blessed…Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28, 29 (NIV)

Mother's Day is a worldwide celebration where we honor and show our appreciation for mothers and mother figures (step-mothers, mothers-in-law, guardians, and family friends), for the precious and powerful and painstakingly self-sacrificing influence of these amazing women in our lives.

Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, is a day we, as a society, have set aside to thank our mothers and mother figures who took the time to care for us and help guide us through life’s challenges with encouraging words and loving hugs and tender kisses.

Mother’s Day is one day where we stop to reflect…
When, as babies, we couldn’t tend to our own needs, our mothers fed us, clothed us, changed our dirty diapers, sang us lullabies.
When, as children, we were lying in bed, during the middle of the night, sick, our mothers sat up with us, whispering soothing words, dispensing our medication, planting get-well kisses on our fevered brows.
When, as adults, we found ourselves stymied by questions and concerns, our mothers offered practical advice and proven strategy.
When, at the end of each day, our mothers tallied up the cost for everything they did for us and pronounced, “No charge.”

No charge.

That is the reason we seek to say “Thank you, Mom,” but the words seem woefully inadequate when stacked against the virtuous, unceasing acts of love from our mothers toward us. Perhaps that is the reason we need to celebrate motherhood.

Did you know Mother's Day is an American invention?

Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in America. She then began a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the United States. Although she was successful in 1914, by the 1920s, she had become disappointed with its commercialization. Jarvis’ holiday was adopted by other countries, like my own, Canada, and it is now celebrated all over the world. In this tradition, we offer a gift and/or card to our mothers, grandmothers, and/or maternal figures on Mother's Day. Even a special meal. Restaurants boast their busiest day of the year is Mother’s Day.

Yes, mothers are a rare breed, and should be honored. But one day a year just doesn’t cut it for all the unceasing, uncomplaining, unequivocal displays of love they shower on us.
Let us, children of all ages, whether our mothers are alive or not, arise and call them blessed. Let us tell them, that while many women can and do noble things, they, our mothers surpass them all. Let us pronounce, with gratitude in our hearts, how blessed we are in having had the mothers we do. Let us give thanks to Almighty God for having given us our mothers and mother figures, not just on the second Sunday of May, but each and every day. This rare breed—our mothers—deserve it.

Let us honor them by caring for their needs, by telling them we love them, by emulating their noble example. Yes, it will cost us. It will cost us time and energy. Maybe even money. But let us quote them and say, “No charge.”

I love you, Mom.

God Bless!
Love & Prayers,
Anna
Anna Dynowski, Author of Inspirational Romance
www.annadynowski.com
to encourage and entertain
Love Never Fails (I Corinthians 13:8 NIV)

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)

I’ve found, sometimes, God is silent. Have you ever experienced the frustration, the apprehension, that no matter how much you bring a particular need before God in prayer, He seemingly does not answer it, that He doesn’t offer you strategy to deal with it or even give you a word of encouragement to hang onto? Yes, sometimes, God is silent. And despite that silence, I try to remember, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5: 16 (NIV) And wait.

I’m so not good at the waiting part. Or the silent part.

Does God not notice good guys finish last? Does He not see the bomb that exploded in a crowded marketplace, killing many innocent bystanders? The AIDS epidemic sweeping across the world taking no heed of age, sex, race, color, creed, or marital status? Does He not see the battered women, the hungry children, the abused elderly in our communities? Or how about, because of the economy, the one who experiences the loss of a job and a very needed salary to pay the very real bills? What about the person who’s just been diagnosed with cancer or some other heinous illness? Or the one whose marriage crumpled and crashed, leaving the family shaking and staggering? Why does God allow such horrible episodes to afflict us, torturing and tormenting us? And why, why, does He permit good people to suffer while the wicked coast through life without a scratch, prospering?

The prophet Habukkuk, who began his ministry to the nation of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, in 612 B.C., had similar questions he asked of God. Violence was on the rise in his day. The authorities were paid to close their eyes to injustices. Corruption eroded the government. Landlords evicted widows with small children for non-payment of rent. The good people suffered. The wicked prospered.

Habukkuk, too, wanted to know… Where was God? Did He not care? When was He going to put an end to all the wrongs happening?

There are no simple answers to the difficulties and distresses in our world.

Habukkuk had to learn, like we do, that all the pains and heartaches in our world, in our communities, in our families, in our lives, are effects of sin. We live in a sinful world. But God is sovereign. In Jesus, the Lord God has defeated sin. And one day, in accordance with His perfect plan and purpose and timetable, He will prevail over the sin and restore our world to its rightful perfection.

Habukkuk had to learn, like we do, that God’s ways may appear perplexing, but whether we understand His mysteries or not, we have to trust Him, we can always trust Him because He is faithful even when we’re not, and we are asked to be faithful as we live our life in the wilderness, knowing He is in control.

Have you failed in some area of your life? Have you made bad choices? Are you struggling to keep it together? We’ve all been in the wilderness, at some time or another. Living on this side of heaven, it’s inevitable that we experience the wilderness, the dry, barren seasons of our lives. But take comfort in this: God is faithful toward us, no matter what we’ve done. God never fails us, no matter how many times we fall short of His expectations.

Rest in His promise and rejoice: God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13: 5 (NIV)

When you should find yourself walking through the wilderness of your life, remember, you belong to Jesus and He will give you His joy and peace and strengthen your faith. And never leave or forsake you.

God Bless!
Love & Prayers,
Anna
Anna Dynowski, Author of Inspirational Romance
www.annadynowski.com
to encourage and entertain
Love Never Fails (I Corinthians 13:8 NIV)

Alive, Santino Moretti was more interested in his fast jetting life than in putting down parental roots. When he died, he left the Triple M property, worth nearly $25 million, to his three sons, Micah, Marek, and Matteo, each born of a different marriage, and each unknown by the others. But before any of them can inherit, each must take consecutive turns living on the farm for three months, then they must live together for the final three months. Half-brothers, unequivocal city boys, and complete strangers, they face the biggest challenge of their lives: to put aside their bitterness and distrust and live like a kind and caring family.

A fast climb up the political ladder, fast red sports cars, and fast sexy women make up Micah Moretti’s world. He has it all. Respect from his colleagues. Money in his bank accounts. Women on his arms. And his ambitious eyes on the most powerful position in the country. The Prime Minister’s seat is within his grasp until a scandal pulls him down and pushes him to Willow Creek, Ontario and the Triple M Farm, a place where he can slow down, lie low, and plot his comeback. It doesn’t include working the “family” farm with his “brothers.” Or running straight into Sierra Rilstone, a constituent in his riding, with deep ties to the community, and the hometown girl who stole his heart many years ago. Good thing they have nothing in common now. Except their undeniable attraction and her young daughter, Savannah.

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