Luke 15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (NIV)
My first job was in a Christian organization. Even though I didn't
know the Lord, I worked at this agency for nine years. It was here that
I met my husband to be, and we were married at the church across the
road. The man I married had accepted the Lord many years before. He had
strayed from church when we met, but never stopped believing. His
immediate family attended church every Sunday, and both before and after
we were married, we would join them for Sunday lunch. Not knowing the
Lord, I had no idea that they had accepted a non-Christian into the
family. I wasn't to figure this out for a number of years. We had two
boys, and other than talk of baptism/baby dedication, there was no other
pressure to go to church from his family.
In fact, the veil
covered my eyes so much that I didn't even notice that the boys were
being taught about Jesus daily and had even come to accept the Lord.
Then it was my turn for Jesus to reach down and touch my life. He did it
through my mother-in-law. I know that we will all never forget that day
when the phone call came -- it was one of those moments when you will
always remember what you were doing at that exact time. She called to
say that she had been diagnosed with cancer, and that the prognosis was
that she had only a few months to live.
As the disease
progressed, she was unable to attend church, so I offered to sit with
her as her husband went. I would sit there Sunday after Sunday doing my
knitting as she slept -- or so I thought. I believe now that she wasn't
sleeping all the time -- she was praying! During the few months that we
had with her, she was so calm and accepting. I could not get my head
around this.
Not having been to many funerals, I was not sure
what to expect, but what I witnessed sure wasn't something that I would
have imagined. It was a celebration of her life. I couldn't understand
this. I went to bed that night, and awakening a few hours later, I went
to sit in the living room. There, I experienced what I thought was a
heart attack, with pain so severe that I could hardly breathe. Then it
left as quickly as it had come. I was left feeling such a sense of
peace, knowing in my heart that it was going to be okay. I uttered a
simple prayer and accepted Jesus. The next morning, I told my husband,
who responded that he had also had a similar experience that night, and
he had turned back to the Lord. We told the boys that we would be
attending church on the following Sunday, and their remark was, "What
took you so long?"
Many Sundays have come and gone since that
day. I am so grateful for the love of my husband's mother that she
accepted me just as I was, and didn't preach, but only prayed. I know
that from heaven, like the angels, she rejoiced that night when I gave
my life to Jesus.
This Mother's Day, say a prayer for a mother
who is in your life or give thanks for one who has gone to be with
Jesus. Say a prayer for a mother who does not yet know eternal life, or
for a woman who has not yet become a mom.
Psalm 116:16-17 "Truly
I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have
freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and
call on the name of the Lord." (NIV 2011)
Prayer: Dear Lord,
thank You for reaching down and touching our lives, though at the time
we may not understand Your ways. Thank You that if we are faithful to
trust You, You will reveal Your ways to us just as You have done for
those dear ones who have gone before us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Julie Bowles
Barrie,
Ontario, Canada
Thanks to PresbyCan Daily Devotional
