I miss my mom… especially in the spring –
Her birthday is April 8th, Mother’s Day is in
May, and she died 4 years ago on May 13th… she loved flowers, and
just a few days ago I picked up my phone to call her and tell her about the
daffodils and ground phlox and tulips covering our front yard, but of course I
couldn’t.
Today I saw her handwriting on the back of a photo – and was
reminded of the letters (in the days before email and texts) that came like
clockwork while I was in college and when we lived 1500 miles away….We didn’t
always agree, but she did whatever she could to support me – and she always
listened – and even when I was taking a route that didn’t thrill her, she
believed in me….
I remember, in my 20’s, finally getting up the courage to
tell her I was sensing a call to the ministry, and that David was, too…. she
was upset – asked if I realized we would always be poor… J (yeah, Mom, I got that
one) But, years later, she would
introduce me proudly as her daughter who was a minister….
There are some moms in western Guatemala whose kids have
disabilities – and not many resources to help them, either within their families
or within their communities. Some can’t
afford the medicine for their child’s seizure disorder. One mom takes a bus 4 hours each way, twice a
week, so her child can have physical and occupational therapy. Some of the kids have physical disabilities,
and others have developmental/cognitive disabilities. Most school systems don’t have special needs
classrooms or programs, and often children with disabilities are hidden away. I can’t imagine the pain and desperation
these moms feel as they realize day after day that they have neither the knowledge or resources to help
their children.
The District Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Council has
been seeking these children out, connecting parents with doctors and
therapists, and, when they can, helping with the cost of medicine, therapy,
transportation, and equipment. They also
work with local churches to see that these families are ministered to
wholistically, and that the churches learn how to include those with
disabilities in their congregations.
In Luke 7, Jesus’ heart was torn by the sight of a woman
mourning her son – and he responded by raising him from the dead. Perhaps we can be a reflection of this
compassion by being the tool God uses to bring ‘new life’ to a family whose
child is suffering.
In honor of your mother, would you join me in sending a
donation through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to assist these moms and
their kids? See our projects page, or go
directly to the NCM site to donate -- http://ncm.org/projects/acm1223
Que Dios les
bendiga! - Lora
Isaiah 66:13:
As a mother comforts her child, so will I
comfort you….
