Note: my dear mother passed away in June 2018. This is my last article written about my mom while she was still living.
Every May, for the past 29 years, I have written an article about Mother’s Day, usually focusing on my own dear mom. For the first 18 years of my life, I basically took my mother for granted. I loved her, but I had no idea how hard she was working in taking care of us.
I am so grateful that my mom was with us on planet earth for so many years. Many of my friends have not had that blessing of being able to pick up the phone and hear their mother’s voice, or go out to the White Spot with her for dinner. The resilience of my mom when facing many challenges was remarkable.
My mother, with her very strong faith, preserved through thick and thin, for better or worse, in sickness and in health. Mom was an example to the rest of your large family.
We loved Mom very much.
As I wrote for the May 2003 Deep Cove Crier, “Where would we be without our mothers? Mothers keep the world on track. Mothers never stop caring. Mothers never stop giving.”
Mom modelled so much good through her caring for and serving others. I became a Social Worker because of the anointing that I received from Mom to stand up for the oppressed and disadvantaged. When I was going through teenage angst, she always deeply listened and stood with me, even though I was oblivious to her deep faith in Christ.
I know that there were times when I was a teenager when Mom stayed up late waiting for me to come in. I probably helped deepen her prayer life during those times.
When our three boys were young, Mom was so willing to help us out, looking after them so that we could have a night off, or attend a conference. The thousands of meals that Mom cooked for us over the years have always been delicious, a sign of her great love and care for your family. Food indeed is love.
Whenever birthdays came along, Mom always invested so much of herself in getting us just the right present. Being an artist, Mom had that great sense of colour co-ordination when she gave us new Christmas sweaters.
Mom, like her own mother, was a true worshipper. Her faith has been a great inspiration to me. Thank God for my mother inviting me to supper with Jesus, when I was wandering in the wilderness, lost and hungry. I am a better person today because of that unfailing love she showed me in season and out of season.
Her worth as a Mother is beyond measure. Mom is loved, appreciated and valued not only by your son, but also by Almighty God. He loved Mom enough to give his only son for her. Words cannot express what Mom mean to me and to your loving family. Happy Mother’s Day.
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Mother Mary is the world’s most famous mother. Her son Jesus honoured her while being crucified by passing on the care of his mother to the Apostle John. In one of the seven last words from the cross, Jesus said: “Dear woman, behold your son, and to John: “Here is your mother.” What an amazing honour and privilege that Jesus was giving John: to look after his mother. How would you like to have been asked to look after the blessed Mother Mary?
Jesus, who loved the Bible, rooted his life in the Ten Commandments. At the heart of the Ten Commandments is the call to honour our mothers. To honour is to love, to value and to cherish. Mother’s Day reminds us that we need to honour our mothers 365 days a year, not just for 24 hours in May. The Good Book tells us that if we honour our mothers, everyone wins. Honouring our mothers even benefits ourselves by giving us a longer and better life.
Because Mother Mary was a widow, Jesus was especially concerned about protecting and providing for his mother. The Good book says that taking care of widows is at the heart of genuine religion. If we do not honour the widows in our family and community, our religion is nothing but an empty pretense. It is too easy for widows to be forgotten and discarded particularly when their health is failing and they become shut-ins. Perhaps Jesus at this moment is reminding you of a widow you know whom you need to give a call. Mother’s Day is a great time to let widowed mothers know that they are important parts of our community.
When Mary became a mother, she faced rejection and misunderstanding, even from her own fiancé Joseph. God had to speak to Joseph and tell him that everything was okay. It is never easy being a mother, especially in our current high-pressure culture. Children are too easily seen as an inconvenience and a financial burden. Mother Mary chose to sacrificially welcome her baby son Jesus into the world with her arms of love. Motherhood is a life of sacrificial love. Mothers love their children with a depth and passion, similar to how much Jesus loves each of us. Right before his crucifixion, Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives crying “How often I wished to take you into my arms like a mother hen would her chicks”. The well-known song by Mark Lowry includes the line: “Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?” This Mother’s Day, we can honour the Mother Mary for her courage in giving birth to the saviour of the world. We can also honour our own mothers who showed the courage to give birth to and raise us to adulthood. Thank you, Mom. We love you dearly. Where would we be without you?
The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, BSW, MDiv, DMin
-an article previously in the North Shore News/Deep Cove Crier
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
For thirty Mother’s Days, I was privileged to write articles in the Deep Cove Crier.
In my first May 1989 DCC issue, I commented that “No computer, no microchip, no hi-tech invention can ever replace that very special person in a child’s life. Motherhood is one of the most demanding, time-consuming, diversified roles in our modern culture.” On Mother’s Day 1990, I prayed that “many moms may feel loved by their husbands in a way that they have never before experienced, that the mothers of our children may feel listened to and cared for not only on the 2nd Sunday of May, but all year round.” On Mother’s Day 2,000, I gave thanks for mother-in-laws, especially my own mother-in-law Vera who passed away that summer. On Mother’s Day 2003, I wrote: “Where would we be without our mothers? Mothers keep the world on track. Mothers never stop caring. Mothers never stop giving.”
Those of you who have been reading my Deep Cove Crier articles for twenty-three years will know that I am a big Mother’s Day fan. God knew what he was talking about when he built the honouring of Mothers right into the 10 Commandments itself. God said in the 10 Commandments that honouring our mothers (and fathers) would actually affect how long and how well we lived out our lives.
Mothers are mentioned 226 times in the bible. The first mother, Eve, was called the mother of all living. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was called the mother of nations. Moses’ mother gave her own child away to an Egyptian princess just to spare his life. Samuel’s mother dedicated her son to the Lord at a very young age. King Solomon reminded young people in Proverbs 4 not to forsake the law of their mother. Young Timothy’s leadership was based on the prayers of his faithful mother Eunice and grandmother Lois.
Why does God want us to honour our mothers? God knows that when we honour and love our mothers, everyone wins. God wins, our mothers win and we win. Proverbs 10:1 teaches that when we foolishly do not honour our mothers, we bring grief to them. Many mothers literally die of broken hearts because of the selfishness and waywardness of their adult children. The Good Book teaches that there is a spiritual law of reaping and sowing. As the famous movie “Gone With the Wind” reminds us, the person who brings trouble on his family will only inherit the wind. (Proverbs 11:29). Honouring our mothers is in our own best interests.
It is very easy to focus on our parent’s flaws. Proverbs 15:20 says that the foolish man despises his mother. Have you ever noticed the number of interesting swear-words that involve the use of the term ‘mother’? There is so much anger and hatred in our culture towards the feminine. Proverbs 30:17 symbolically says that those who dishonour their mothers will have their eyes pecked out by the ravens and vultures. To reject motherhood is to go blind to the things that really matter in life. I believe it is time for us to rediscover the ancient wisdom of the Ten Commandments, the very foundation of our Canadian legal and moral system. Honouring our mothers is not a multiple-choice option.
Our culture has a tendency to make fun of women when they are older, calling them disparaging names and treating them as irrelevant. It is no wonder that so many women feel afraid to admit their real age. Proverbs 23:22 says: “Do not despise your mother when she is old.” Blessing our mothers is a wonderful privilege that we should not miss. Many people sadly save all their blessings for the funeral eulogy. My challenge to you is to not wait until your mother is dead and buried. Bless her today before it is too late. Give thanks for her this week, because life is so short. And make a fuss of her this coming Mother’s Day. She deserves it and needs it. Happy Mother’s Day.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Where would we be without our mothers? Mothers keep the world on track. Mothers never stop caring. Mothers never stop giving.
Sometimes our generous mothers suffer from exhaustion. The gift of Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the irreplaceable mothers in our lives. One of the best gifts we can give is the gift of gratitude, the gift of thanksgiving, perhaps even the gift of doing the dishes!
My late mother often showed her love to me in delicious, unforgettable meals. Love and food are intricately linked. Can you think of anyone you really love that you have not eaten a meal with? Mother’s Day itself is a major time for families to gather with their mothers and eat together.
My late father kept video records of our family gatherings. From looking at our family videos, you would think that all we ever do is celebrate and eat together. Good food is wonderful but without the presence of family and especially the mothers in our lives, food can leave you rather empty inside. Experts tell us that a lot of over-eating and under-eating has to do with deep love-deficits in our lives.
When my father showed his appreciation to my mom, he would often express it by taking the whole family out to the White Spot restaurant. The White Spot for me symbolized quality, caring, and family. The second favorite spot that my father brought us to was Yen Lock’s in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. I initially used to stay at home with my grandmother, as I didn’t like Chinese food. Eventually I overcame my culinary aversion and joined my mother and family for the Yen Lock celebrations. Ironically Chinese food, especially chicken chow mein, is now my favorite meal!
One of my favorite food-inspired paintings is the famous Holman Hunt painting of Jesus standing with a lantern and patiently knocking on a weed-covered, closed door. Holman Hunt’s inspiration for the painting came straight from Revelation 3:20: “Behold I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together”. I was often puzzled why Jesus would want to eat with me, if I would open the door of my heart. One day I realized that all true love, all true relationship involves food. No wonder one of the highest act of worship involves bread and wine, eaten in remembrance of this wonderful relationship with Jesus.
My mother, like her mother before, was a true worshipper of Jesus in spirit and truth. Her faith has been a great inspiration to me. Thank God for my mother who invited me to supper with Jesus, when I was wandering in the wilderness, lost and hungry. I thank God for all those great meals my mom cooked me year in and year out. I now see more than ever that every portion was prepared with heart-felt love. I am a better person today because of that unfailing love.
Food is love! No wonder so many people around the world are discovering the meaning of love as they sit down for dinner at an Alpha course. Lovingly prepared by mothers and others, Alpha dinners are becoming the highlight of many people’s weeks. Through Alpha dinners, many mothers and others are discovering authentic, lasting community in a fragmented world. After my own mother attended an Alpha Course dinner, she couldn’t stop raving about it!
My prayer for this Mother’s Day is that each of us will sit down for dinner with Jesus, the lover of our souls.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Mother’s Day stirred up a favourite memory from my childhood: going on the Horseshoe Bay Ferry over to the Sunshine Coast, where my Grandma always served us freshly baked, hot apple pie. Grandma Hird baked some of the tastiest apple pies that I’ve ever eaten. But she always apologized about her apple pies, saying that the pastry didn’t turn out just right, or that she hadn’t baked enough pies for us. Our family usually needed to go on a diet for three weeks, just to recover from a weekend of Grandma Hird’s delicious cooking! Grandma always would tell us how fortunate she was to have such wonderful neighbours. She would comment on how caring and friendly they were to her. Whoever you were, Grandma Hird always made you feel special. With such a gift of hospitality, it was no wonder that so many young children in the neighbourhood ‘adopted’ her as their own grandma.
Even though she couldn’t read a note of music, Grandma Olive was an excellent pianist. As her eyesight became worse and she went into a care facility, her greatest regret was that she couldn’t play the piano any more, or bake apple pies for us. Grandma was such a loving person that she loved to give generously to others, and it hurt when she couldn’t. When my family and I would visit Grandma in the nursing home, she used to give our 3 boys money to go to MacDonald’s. She’d say: “I so miss not being able to cook apple pies for you, like when Grandpa was alive.” Grandma Hird really missed her husband since he’d passed away.
Grandma Olive didn’t have an easy life. She had to quit school at age 15 to look after her 3 younger brothers. Her mother, who was an Ensign in the Salvation Army and knew William & Catherine Booth personally, had died suddenly in the 1918 flu epidemic. Her father was away overseas at war. So Grandma Olive had to function as “the mother” to her younger brothers for the next six years until her father remarried. She had a tough time understanding why such a wonderful woman as her mother would be taken from her. But she never stopped trusting that she would meet her Mom some day in heaven. Years later, when my Grandma’s sight was going, she gave me her mother’s bible. I have always treasured this gift, as it includes some actual sermons and poems written by her mom. ‘The cross is a mystery’, wrote her mother, ‘until you take it up.’ Grandma Olive knew from personal experience that being a mother often involves taking up unexpected crosses in one’s life.
When Grandma Olive died in 1990, I had the unique privilege of taking her funeral service. It was a hard thing to do, but also very meaningful. Years later, I give thanks for what a loving, gracious grandmother she was to me. When I wonder why my father learned to respect women, I know that it came from his deep respect for his mother Olive who totally devoted her life to her family. I firmly believe that much of my father’s self-confidence as an adult came from the unshakable conviction that he was unconditionally loved by his mother. As Grandma Olive was gradually dying, her Doctor often visited her. He said that she was a majestic lady, and that whenever he came to see her, he went away feeling better. Even in the last stages of death, Grandma Olive had the ability to comfort and calm those around her.
I will always remember the last private communion service that I had with Grandma Olive, a week before she died.. She participated very intensely in the service, although greatly weakened physically. As I spoke of Jesus’ loving death for us, she nodded her head continually and then said: “I’m ready to go. I want to be with Grandpa, my parents, and my friends.” One of her last few words were: “I am so fortunate. I have such a good family and friends”. Then she said, “I love you very much.” Grandma Olive was not afraid to die, because she believed in the truth of Easter. Grandma knew that love was stronger than death. This Mother’s Day, I want to thank God for all the mothers, like Grandma Olive, who unselfishly devote their lives to their families.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Everyday there are computers being invented that take over more and more of our traditional functions. Many jobs that we take for granted will have totally disappeared within 20 years, due to technological advance. I am convinced that there is one position in life that can never be replaced by advances in technology: the position of mother. Think of your own mother for a moment. What series of machines or computers could ever take her place? What social bureaucracy could ever fill in for a mother’s warmth, caring, and reliability? Thank God for the wonderful gift of women who really care for their sons and daughters. Thank God for the security and rootedness that comes from having a mom who welcomes you home.
The more mature I become, the more I appreciate how much my own late mother has given to me. My sense of well being, of basic trust and confidence are all gifts that have come through the persevering love of my mother. I have counseled people who have been robbed of the gift of a caring mother, and I have seen deep woundedness in the area of basic trust and security. One of the greatest gifts a mother can give her child is the gift of feeling at home. A house that is not a home, no matter how luxurious, is a barren house indeed, I am thankful for my mother giving me the gift of feeling at home in my home. I am thankful for how she sacrificed time and energy for me in so many countless ways that one can not really measure. Thank God for my mom teaching me what really matters in life, for pointing to values and standards for daily living.
Every Mother’s Day I am reminded afresh that I am the recipient of so many wonderful gifts from a wonderful mother. It saddens me how easily I forget to appreciate the many blessings I receive day after day: the gift of sight, the gift of hearing, the gift of family, the gift of a career, the gift of friends, the gift of the trees and the rivers and the mountains. Everywhere I look, life is full of amazing gifts that I so often take for granted. Without my mother having taken the courageous step of giving birth to me, I would have never been able to experience any of these wonderful gifts.
The greatest gift my mom gave me was the gift of her prayers. I believe that I am who I am today, in large part due to her patient loving prayers for me. Even when God was a non issue to me, I know that she never stopped pouring her heart out before the heavenly Father on my behalf. When I was lost and wandering, her prayers redirected me back to the values and standards that I had forgotten, When I was empty and lacking purpose, mom’s prayers rebirthed in me the hope that life still has meaning and significance. Through her prayers, God lit a candle in my darkness. Thank you, God, for my irreplaceable mother.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Thanks God for my late mom always being there for me when I’ve needed you. As I think about Mother’s Day, I remember times as a teenager when I felt confused and discouraged about life, and she was there to listen. It is only years later that I realize what a tremendous gift that was to me. There were times as a teenager when I felt embarrassed even to have parents. I remember how uneasy I felt walking with Mom and Dad at the shopping mall, in case any of my high school acquaintances would see me. As a teenager I was so much into proving how independent I was, that I failed to appreciate that one’s family is an irreplaceable gift. Thank God for my mom being so patient and forgiving with my teenage growing pains. I really had very little idea how much she was sacrificing in order to give my sisters and me a loving and secure home. I really did not see mom as a person with her own dreams, fears, and hopes.
It is only years later that I have come to see how much impact children can have on one’s dreams, fears, and hopes. I will always remember meeting with a young couple who were expecting their first child. This couple were avid skiers every weekend up at Whistler. They said to me: “We are thrilled about having a baby, but it’s not going to change anything.” I thought to myself: “Children don’t change anything….they change everything!”
Gary Smalley and John Trent, well-known authors and family counselors, said that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the gift of honour. Smalley/Trent say that ‘honour’ is a decision we make to place high value, worth, and importance on another person by viewing him or her as a priceless gift and granting him or her a position in our lives worthy of great respect. Thank God for my mom giving me the gift of honour both as a child and an adult. In so many ways, she showed that she valued me and really cared for me.
I am amazed, as I look back, at all the countless sports activities and clubs she drove me to. To be honest, I took all her driving for granted. I just assumed that parents did that kind of thing. Having been a chauffeur to my own three sons, I realize that taking time to get your children involved in various extra-curricular activities is a real act of love. Mom and Dad went to countless plays, school assemblies and pageants: not because we were the most talented children in the world, but because she saw her children as priceless treasures. As a parent, I have been to Christmas school concerts where the concert never seems to start, where every child seems to be playing a different note, and where most spoken communication is muffled and virtually unintelligible. The redeeming feature of those concerts for me was when one of my sons beamed a big smile from the stage and gives me a wave. My sons felt honoured if I was there, and very disappointed if I was too busy. Thank God for my mom never being too busy to come to my concerts.
There were many times that I did not really appreciate my mom’s spirituality…just how important God was to her. As a teenager, I found church boring, unintelligible, and irrelevant. So I went skiing at Mount Seymour on Sunday mornings instead. Thank God for mom not condemning me when I strayed from church. Thank God for mom never failing to pray for me that I would come to discover Jesus Christ for myself. I believe that it was her prayers and the prayers of Nana Allen that softened my heart to let Jesus come in. I have come to believe from personal experience that the persistent prayers of a loving mother are one of the most powerful forces in the universe.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May is a well-established tradition going back over a hundred years ago to Miss Anne Jarvis of Philadelphia. During May 1907, on the anniversary of her mother’s death, she arranged for a special service in her church.
The idea spread like wildfire throughout the world and in 1914 was named as a national annual observance by the U.S. Congress. Anna Jarvis became so upset by the commercial success of Mother’s Day that she organized a boycott and was even arrested for disturbing the peace. Sadly she spent all her money fighting the commercialization and ended penniless in a sanitarium.
The Uniqueness of Mothers
It seems to me that there is no one who knows more about mothers than their children. So to celebrate Mother’s Day, I spoke with a number of local children about their mothers. The first question I asked them was “Why are Mothers special?” One boy said that mothers are special because they love you and if you didn’t have a mother, you wouldn’t be alive. A little girl said that moms are special because they help you out in a lot of things and they take care of us. Others said that mothers are special …because my mom gave birth to me, I love her a lot, and she gives me lots of things …because I was born from a mother …because they are one of your parents …because they help take care of the kids when the dad is not home …because they ‘had’ the children–men don’t give birth to children …because God made them …because boys love them …and because if my mom wasn’t around, then I wouldn’t be around.
Then I asked them: “What do you like best about your mother?” One girl said that she likes going for vacations with her mom. A boy said that he likes that she is home, that she loves God and is a Christian. Another boy said: “She loves me and cares for me.” Other children liked the following things best about their moms: She is kind, nice, and she cares for kids …I love her and I like her …she makes me lunch every day …she reads me stories …she helps me on my math homework and stuff …and she’s nice.
My third question was: “If you could do one nice thing for your mother, what would it be?” One boy said that he could stay up really late and do all the chores that she usually does for him. A girl said that she could buy her mom a car. Other children thought that they could…do the paper route for her, play the piano for her at church, make his own lunch, make her breakfast, get her a diamond ring, sweep the floor, clean up the whole kitchen for her and probably clean the house.
My final question, which certainly fits in with the origins of Mother’s Day, was “How does God feel about mothers?” One little girl said that God feels happy about Mommies that they take care of all the kids. One boy said that God loves them a lot, He thinks that they are beautiful, and He is happy when they obey Him…He is sad when they don’t. Another child said: “I don’t know. I guess He loves them, because He made them.” And finally one child said: “God feels good about Mommies, that they are nice to their children. He is glad that He made them.”
Jesus said that we need to become like little children in order to learn how to really love. I thank God for all the children who loves their moms, and pray that every mother reading this article will feel deeply loved and cared for by their children. May every day be a Mother’s Day.
– previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
It has been said that “The task of Motherhood in this day and age is challenging and rewarding beyond measure. It requires a special blend of love and authority, not to mention unyielding commitment and plenty of hard work” (Focus on the Family). With motherhood being such a challenging task, ii is more important than ever that husbands specially affirm their wives in that vital but underrated work. Mother’s Day on the 2nd Sunday of each year is an annual reminder to the mothers of our children of this bottom line message: “Honey, I love you” (or equivalent) is an expression that their mothering is backed up by a partner who really cares for them.
Ephesians 5:33 teaches that “each one must love his wife as he loves himself’ Love, especially romantic love, is one of the deepest needs of today’s mothers in a frantic, often lonely world. I believe that God sends husbands to earth precisely to meet that need in a woman’s heart.
One of the greatest obstacles to really loving our wives is the tendency of men to want to fix everything. We so often want to solve all our problems logically, orderly and immediately. That may work in the business world, but it rarely works in the world of relationships. What our wives want from us as husbands is not so much the ability to solve all their problems, but rather the willingness to really listen, to really lay aside our agendas and just “be there”. The Bible says that we “should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” Intensive listening is a fundamental way of saying “Honey, I love you” on Mother’s Day.
Paddy Ducklow, a counsellor and Pastor, said recently that the 8 most important words in a marriage are “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. It’s my fault” He suggested that every couple memorize these 8 words, (even if they never plan to use them). Those 8 words are one more way of saying on Mother’s Day “Honey, I love you”.
My Mother’s Day prayer for those moms reading this article is that many moms may feel loved by their husbands in a way that they have never before experienced, that the mothers of our children may feel listened to and cared for not only on the 2nd Sunday of May, but all year round. May every day be a mother’s day.
-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier/North Shore News
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a personally signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
My late mother never forgot the time that she opened up her Mother’s Day card and read the words: ‘You’ve Been Like a Mother To Me’. “But I am your real mother!”, she said. “Exactly”, I responded. “That’s why I chose the card. It’s wonderful that you were not only my birth-mother but also have been so genuinely motherly to me’.
I have been so blessed to have a mother who has been so full of care and compassion through the good times and the bad. But not everyone has been so fortunate. Some people have been raised by their birth-mothers who were so wounded that they were unable to express love and nurture during the formative years. This can leave people with a big hole in their hearts and a sense of loneliness that is hard to express.
Drs. Dennis Cloud & John Townsend, best-selling authors of ‘Boundaries’ and ‘The Mother Factor’, believe that ‘mothering is the most significant, demanding and underpaid profession around.’ When they interviewed people about their definitions of true mothering, certain words came up again and again: nurture, care, bondedness, cookies, and trust. Drs. Cloud and Townsend were able to name five basic needs that must be met by a mother, in order for us to be healthy and secure:
Safety
Nurture
Basic Trust
Belonging and Invitation
Someone to Love.
Safety, says Cloud & Townsend, comes in the form of a person who is predictable, stable, and danger-free. Without this person, the child remains in a state of panic or anxiety, unable to love or learn. I give thanks for my mother who gave me this gift of personal safety. I always knew intuitively that whether I was a success or a failure, obedient or rebellious, my mother would always be there for me.
The second need that mothers meet is ‘to nurture’. Webster’s Dictionary says that to nurture is to ‘feed or nourish’. When I was troubled at school by bullies or exams, my mother was always there to feed me, with cookies, milk, and a listening ear. I remember going through deep struggles as a teenager about the meaning of life and career choices. Mom was always there to listen. True, I often rejected her advice and was closed to her deep spirituality. But most important, her nurturing and food were always there when I was struggling.
The third need that mothers meet is ‘basic trust’. Drs. Cloud & Townsend teach that basic trust is the ability to invest oneself in a relationship. Healthy people let themselves need and depend on others without fear. We live in a high-tech disposable age where everything is up for grabs.
There is an enormous fear of commitment and long-term intimacy. Yet simultaneously many of us ache from the absence of such relational rootedness. My wife and I have been happily married for 41 years. I believe that a big part of why I have not self-destructed my own marriage is because of how healthy my mother was. My mother modeled for me the value of hanging in there through the thick and the thin. My mother demonstrated a deep faith and trust that good would always come out of even the most tragic situations. With the help of her favorite comic writer Erma Bombeck, my mother could always find something to smile about, even when life was not ‘a bowl of cherries’.
The fourth need that mothers meet is ‘belonging and invitation’. All of us, say Drs. Cloud & Townsend, have the need to belong to someone and to something bigger than ourselves. Belonging and love are at the root of our humanness. My mother, as a gifted chauffeur, was forever driving me to endless soccer, baseball, hockey, chess, swimming, & skiing lessons. She knew that I had a deep need to belong and to grow. My mom also did her best to involve me in Sunday school, confirmation classes, youth groups, and summer camps. I had no idea how much I really needed the church family to be my ‘spiritual mother’. Like many in our individualistic age, I figured that I could do any spirituality better on my own. My mother never forced religion down my throat, but the door was always wide open. Thank God for my mother introducing me to God’s family.
The fifth need that mothers meet is ‘someone to love’. There is perhaps no greater wound in a child than having a mother who just can’t love you. We know intuitively that everything about true motherhood is about love and caring. Yet some moms have been so damaged that they are what Drs. Cloud & Townsend would call ‘Phantom Moms’: moms who are not really there in any tangible sense. Others have moms who Drs. Cloud & Townsend call ‘China Doll Moms’: moms who are so fragile and stressed out that no one can get too close for fear of shattering them. Without a mom who can show us real love, we end up feeling unwanted at a deep level and estranged from our true identity. Thank you, Mom, that once again you came through for me in a very practical way. For 62 years, my mom showed me time and time again that I mattered to her, and that she really care. The love of Christ that I saw in my mom allows me to show that same love to others.
The best news of all is that even if our mothers couldn’t fully meet these five basic needs, God can make up for any love deficit. As the Good Book puts it, ‘though your father and mother forsake you, I the Lord will receive you.’ My prayer for for those reading this article is that each of us may discover afresh the amazing love of God, especially as seen in the loving arms of our mothers.
The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, BSW, MDiv, DMin
-previously published in the North Shore News/Deep Cove Crier
P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
Every May, for the past 29 years, I have written an article about Mother’s Day, usually focusing on my own dear mom. For the first 18 years of my life, I basically took my mother for granted. I loved her, but I had no idea how hard she was working in taking care of us.
her caring for and serving others. I became a Social Worker because of the anointing that I received from Mom to stand up for the oppressed and disadvantaged. When I was going through teenage angst, she always deeply listened and stood with me, even though I was oblivious to her deep faith in Christ.
Her worth as a Mother is beyond measure. Mom is loved, appreciated and valued not only by your son, but also by Almighty God. He loved Mom enough to give his only son for her. Words cannot express what Mom mean to me and to your loving family. Happy Mother’s Day.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
honoured her while being crucified by passing on the care of his mother to the Apostle John. In one of the seven last words from the cross, Jesus said: “Dear woman, behold your son, and to John: “Here is your mother.” What an amazing honour and privilege that Jesus was giving John: to look after his mother. How would you like to have been asked to look after the blessed Mother Mary?
When Mary became a mother, she faced rejection and misunderstanding, even from her own fiancé Joseph. God had to speak to Joseph and tell him that everything was okay. It is never easy being a mother, especially in our current high-pressure culture. Children are too easily seen as an inconvenience and a financial burden. Mother Mary chose to sacrificially welcome her baby son Jesus into the world with her arms of love. Motherhood is a life of sacrificial love. Mothers love their children with a depth and passion, similar to how much Jesus loves each of us. Right before his crucifixion, Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives crying “How often I wished to take you into my arms like a mother hen would her chicks”. The well-known song by Mark Lowry includes the line: “Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?” This Mother’s Day, we can honour the Mother Mary for her courage in giving birth to the saviour of the world. We can also honour our own mothers who showed the courage to give birth to and raise us to adulthood. Thank you, Mom. We love you dearly. Where would we be without you?
My mother, like her mother before, was a true worshipper of Jesus in spirit and truth. Her faith has been a great inspiration to me. Thank God for my mother who invited me to supper with Jesus, when I was wandering in the wilderness, lost and hungry. I thank God for all those great meals my mom cooked me year in and year out. I now see more than ever that every portion was prepared with heart-felt love. I am a better person today because of that unfailing love.
When Grandma Olive died in 1990, I had the unique privilege of taking her funeral service. It was a hard thing to do, but also very meaningful. Years later, I give thanks for what a loving, gracious grandmother she was to me. When I wonder why my father learned to respect women, I know that it came from his deep respect for his mother Olive who totally devoted her life to her family. I firmly believe that much of my father’s self-confidence as an adult came from the unshakable conviction that he was unconditionally loved by his mother. As Grandma Olive was gradually dying, her Doctor often visited her. He said that she was a majestic lady, and that whenever he came to see her, he went away feeling better. Even in the last stages of death, Grandma Olive had the ability to comfort and calm those around her.
Gary Smalley and John Trent, well-known authors and family counselors, said that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the gift of honour. Smalley/Trent say that ‘honour’ is a decision we make to place high value, worth, and importance on another person by viewing him or her as a priceless gift and granting him or her a position in our lives worthy of great respect. Thank God for my mom giving me the gift of honour both as a child and an adult. In so many ways, she showed that she valued me and really cared for me.
My third question was: “If you could do one nice thing for your mother, what would it be?” One boy said that he could stay up really late and do all the chores that she usually does for him. A girl said that she could buy her mom a car. Other children thought that they could…do the paper route for her, play the piano for her at church, make his own lunch, make her breakfast, get her a diamond ring, sweep the floor, clean up the whole kitchen for her and probably clean the house.
Ephesians 5:33 teaches that “each one must love his wife as he loves himself’ Love, especially romantic love, is one of the deepest needs of today’s mothers in a frantic, often lonely world. I believe that God sends husbands to earth precisely to meet that need in a woman’s heart.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Edhird's Blog 