Today has been a kitchen day for me. My husband is sick and I have a district meeting tomorrow so I simply decided to bake for some of my favorite people…pastors.

baking

My mom spent a lot of days in the kitchen when I was growing up. She has been on my mind all day. I even had a few questions for her and felt so much gratitude that I could still pick up the phone and call her. Sure, google was available to me, but I’ve learned that Mrs. Google is neither as smart nor as wise as Mrs. Merki. Plus I just like to talk to her.
mom
I wonder why it is that we rarely recognize the wisdom of our parents until we are nearly 30 years old? How I wish I had not wasted some good years thinking that I knew everything.

Silence is my friend. The tv was not on today. There was no music playing. It was a day for thinking and I thought a lot about my mom. Here is what I thought about…

  1. I’m thankful I still have my mom. In the last 10 days, 3 of our pastors and our 21 year old office receptionist all lost a parent. It’s been a sobering reminder to be grateful for what I have. I don’t want my mom to have to bury me; she’s been there and done that with 2 children. That is enough. That said, I don’t look forward to the day I have to say goodbye to her. I talk to her nearly every day; it’s part of the fabric of my day.
  2. I’m thankful that, one day, my mom chose redemption. She grew up in a home with a mom, a sister and an alcoholic father. Life was difficult. When mom was a teenager, she and my dad chose Jesus. That choice changed everything. Mom’s sister made the same choice. Their choice to marry well, led to 8 children and 17 grandchildren. Ultimately, it led to my redemption.I am redeemed

Earlier this week, I saw a post where an older gentleman of faith questioned the validity of current redemption stories. I’m pretty sure it offended me because I am a product of several redemption stories and I don’t believe for a minute that these stories are obsolete.

My primary prayer moving into 2018 is that the Tim Hancock family will have generations of redemption stories. “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6