On Sacrificial Love (of the Mothering Kind) and Leaving a Legacy

I attended a funeral today of a woman very special to me named Emily who left a strong faith & family legacy...I met at her house for several years with her daughter and other friends for Moms In Touch and we prayed for our kids/ grandkids and their schools, teachers and classmates. 


In hearing today of the impact of her life, I found myself pondering my own mother, myself as a mother, my daughter as a mother....and asking myself, 'what kind of legacy am I leaving?' I consider my need to be intentional, alert, and most importantly prayerful. ~Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain~ Psalm 127:1


We need to make sure our kids know He is Lord and He LOVES them, and desires their obedience for their benefit and well-being as well as for His glory. ♥


I also had this thought today when hearing of Emily's sacrificial giving of her time, love, and resources. (Frank and Emily had five children and took in several foster children, gave to the community and blessed their neighbors among other acts of love)...and the One who gives time, love and resources...


{The chorus of this old song by Michael English} 


"There's not a victory without a fight, theres not a sunrise without a night, theres not a purchase without a cost, and theres not a crown without a cross..."

Peter wanted to keep Jesus enshrined in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, and he wanted to keep him from suffering when he was told of Jesus' impending cross-death. When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus turned around and rebuked Satan. How stunned Peter must have been! (Can you imagine Jesus turning around, looking at you and saying 'Get behind Me Satan?') Peter wanted to prevent the suffering that Jesus was going to go through. It's a very natural human thing to want to prevent suffering... 


...but we would not have a resurrection without the cross.   


Then Jesus made sure His followers knew that we would need to bear our own daily cross on the way to glory...when He said, 'if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me'. Luke 9:23  

I have come to understand at this empty-nest stage of life, that a mother's heaviest cross is the one of allowing her children to suffer at times for their greater good...and then I think of God who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son...and I grasp a greater measure of understanding of that Amazing Love and Amazing Grace...