Remembering with Thanks

“Surely my soul remembers and is bowed sown within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Yesterday morning Nov 19th, I once again walked down the hospital corridors to get a glimpse of our fifth grand child. Our youngest of three daughters gave birth to her first baby boy. As I entered the room there they were, mommy, daddy, and the new, sweet, fresh little bundle all wrapped up in his mother’s arms. As soon as I looked at my daughter, beautiful but exhausted, I looked at her with such joy but thought to myself, “it’s her turn now.” As I was thanking God for this moment, I was recalling the last twenty-six years of raising my daughter, now a mother, and remembering the loving kindnesses of the Lord.

I thanked Him for all of the late nights and wee hours of the morning that I thought would never end. I thanked Him for every fever, ear infection, cough and multitude of doctors appointments that He carried me through, and the prayers He answered in the midst. Cutting teeth, tummy aches, needing a nap, and the first time holding a crayon, I am thankful. Some of the memories I am most thankful for was hearing that first little prayer being prayed and the first time the little arms were raised in worship to the Lord.

Did I live through motherhood with a constant attitude of thanks? Not always, there were days, months, and even years when the going got tough and my heart would be anxious about how my children would all turn out. Was I doing it right? Could someone help me our here? But here I am on the other side by the faithfulness of God and its their turn now. And now it’s my turn to remember all the years that God gave me to parent my children and give thanks. Thank Him that He will be faithful to them. Thank Him that now as I am a praying grandma, He will gently guide and care for my adult children and their little off shoots just like He did when me and my husband were frazzled parents.

The memories came in like a flood yesterday morning as a new generation just entered our family. As I recall the memories of motherhood I can’t imagine having chosen something else more worth while. Being a mother is truly a high calling of God and the investment is precious in His sight. When you get to the other side as a woman of God, you can’t help but thank your heavenly Father that he met you, helped you, and carried you through every step. The thanksgiving is truly realized when your children are grown and you hear the cry of new life in their arms and God saying, “My loving kindness indeed will never cease.”

Happy Thanksgiving!