PURPOSEFUL LIVING

God bless our Mothers. They are such special people and we are forever grateful to Mothers. And so, we should say a prayer for all Mothers today..

I said a Mother’s Day prayer for you
to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime
of your tenderhearted love.

I thanked God for the caring
you’ve shown me through the years,
for the closeness we’ve enjoyed
in time of laughter and of tears.

And so, I thank you from the heart
for all you’ve done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me
the best mother there could be!

~ Author Unknown ~

 And here are the Reflections of a Mother…..

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.

I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I can not make you beautiful inside.

I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.

I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can’t build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can’t say “no” for you.

I can warn you about drugs, but I can’t prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can’t achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can’t force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.

I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God’s family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.

I can love you with unconditional love all of my life
… and I will.  

~ Author Unknown ~  

And for some of us whose mothers are not around, here is a tribute for them too …

A Mother’s Tribute

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for teaching me to find the courage and strength
to dance to my own brand of music.

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for showing me that each and everyone of us are a miracle of God
each destined to leave our own unique footprints in this journey called life.

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for encouraging me to see the invisible in order to do the impossible

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for always loving me unconditionally,
even when I least deserved it.

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for showing me daily the value of family and friendship, loyalty and love

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for believing in me when I no longer believed in myself

If you were here I would say thank-you,
for all the examples of how to be a mother, body and soul.

If you were here I would say thank-you
for all the sacrifices, heartache, loneliness, tears, and frustrations
that you so selflessly endured since the day I was born,
the day you decided to forever have your heart leave your body

Since you are no longer here,
I will close my eyes and say thank-you in my prayers,
and hope that you know you were all I have ever wanted to be.

 — Written by Dorrette Hogan