When God works through the beauty of a mother’s (and a grandmother’s) love

By Derek Maul

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth

Psalm 121

Mother’s Day is always a great opportunity to rest in gratitude. Or, as I told my mum in her card, “After 66-years it’s clear I made a great choice when I picked you out!”

I for one am extremely thankful for my mum. I am thankful for my wife, Rebekah, too, who has been doing a rather spectacular job ever since we first stepped into the privilege of parenting back in 1982. And I am particularly grateful for Rebekah’s mama, Nell, who taught both of us so much, and who would be delighted to see the kind of mother her granddaughter Naomi is becoming.

Katherine – the director of children, family, and youth at our church – recently pointed out that we are all “mommed” at one time or another, and by a variety of people.

What she is talking about is the idea of deliberate intentional care, thoughtful support, and the “mom-level” of encouragement.

Spending the day in worship together, celebrating faith around the communion table, and then doing those all-important photo-shoots, Mother’s Day is always one of those exceptionally beautiful days. But then again it always is a Great Day when we not only celebrate our family, but when we do it in the context of community and living faith.

Because God is gracious, and God is faithful too; and it is God’s love that holds us together so well, teaching us grace, mercy, promise, and hope.

In love, and because love is real – DEREK

Derek is a North Carolina-based writer, journalist, teacher and speaker. He is the author of numerous books on what the Bible reveals as essential in becoming a man of God.

He is convinced that his four grandchildren are exactly the hope and promise that this world needs. His conviction is important to understand because it reveals a lot about his theology, and how he believes our identity as God’s children plays out in the day-to-day experience of living in a world where darkness, disappointment, and defeat are all too common.

He is a committed encourager, and a pilgrim in progress. He divides his time between writing and traveling to speak about the fully engaged life. His passion is to connect people – men and women – with a more vibrant, authentic experience of what he calls “The Life-Charged Life.”

If you would like to read more, check out his author page at Amazon. Also check out his website and his daily blog.

Photograph is the property of Derek Maul and can only be used with his permission.

Reading Between The Lines, With Derek Maul is published every Wednesday on Christian Grandfather Magazine.