This month, we celebrate moms, aunts, and grandmothers who influence their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The poem below was written by a gifted author, Sharon Jaynes. She composed this after sitting at a table with women who shared their experiences. One lady hung her head and said, “I’m just a mom.” Sharon immediately responded with encouraging words and later penned this poem. 

Easter, The Cross. April 15, 2025

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20 ESV)

“Loose lips sink ships,” my mother used to tell me. This phrase originated during World War II to warn servicemen and civilians against sharing sensitive information, as the enemy could overhear it and take advantage of it. Today, the phrase relates to gossip. We have all encountered people who have gossiped about us. Gossip involves sharing personal or sensational details about someone else without their knowledge or consent.

Mark Twain once said, “Love is the beauty of the soul.” When I felt the joy of holding our newborns for the first time, kissing their little fingers and toes, I thought my heart would explode with love. This beauty of the soul is inexpressible and hard to define. We see it in the eyes of newlywed couples who can’t keep their eyes off each other and let go of one another’s hands. When I see older couples holding hands, I am thrilled to see the love they quietly express for one another. My husband and I have been married for over 50 years and were total opposites when we married.

In January, everyone makes resolutions for the coming year. Yes, I usually do this too. Yet, I’m seldom able to keep them. One year I resolved to not eat sweets for six months. I decided Stevia was fine since it wasn’t really sugar! It took one month and slowly the sugar crept back into my “diet.” Another time I resolved not to eat French fries for six months. French fries are my favorite. All it took was George bringing home McDonald’s French fries and that resolution went out the window. I said I wanted only one but I ate them all! When I fail and renege on my optimistic resolutions, I feel guilty, but I can’t go back.

When I was pregnant for the first time, I often rubbed my stomach and talked to the little one growing inside my womb. I remember the first flutter like butterflies. When the baby began to grow, I could feel a heal or elbow lightly pushing on my skin. I do not think Mary was any different than me. She was stirred deep within her heart when she felt baby Jesus in her womb for the first time.

This year was full of health struggles in our family. We are thankful all is well now, and life has resumed as normal. But when our loved ones were struggling, we were put to the test. For myself, I had excruciating back pain until the Lord brought the right doctor to give me back surgery. The constant pain mixed with a myriad of emotions made me feel like I was in a whirlwind. Daily, I had to remind myself the Lord saw what I was going through and He would sustain me.

There are always firsts in our lives. I remember the first time my father taught me to ride my red Montgomery Ward bike without training wheels. My father explained the process and I put trust in my dad to hold the bike as I peddled along until he was sure I could handle it. I remember the first time I drove a car without supervision and my mom encouraged me to watch not only what was ahead but to be aware of everything around me. I remember the first time I voted.

When our children were young, I bought puzzles with small knobs on the pieces to help them fit them together.  As they grew older, the pieces became smaller and more numerous. By their teenage years,  I bought much harder puzzles, and we worked on them while vacationing. When the beautiful puzzles were finished, we felt a sense of accomplishment but also sadness as we took them apart and put them back in the box. One day the Lord spoke to my heart: “It’s not about the puzzle, but the quality time spent with the children.” As my children grew up and puzzling was no longer important to them, I stopped putting puzzles together. It was too frustrating to find

A devotional book I have been reading is taking me through the Bible in a year. Recently, I was reading 1 Samuel 8, concerning Saul. Sometimes we skim past Saul because David becomes a much larger character. Yet there are some important lessons to learn from Saul.

President Reagan commissioned the Statue of Liberty to be refurbished in 1986 for the Centennial celebration of our country’s founding. Lee Iacocca headed up the project. George and I were honored to join Iacocca and others as we cruised into New York Harbor to celebrate the Fourth of July, with a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty. All day, we watched processions of military ships, large sailboats, and yachts proudly displaying the American flag. On the decks of the ships, men dressed sharply in their military uniforms saluted us. I felt so proud to be an American.

He sat at my feet, leaning against me. His eyes, black like coal, looked up at me and my heart melted as I touched his soft curly hair.  He was sweet and innocent, only one year old. The kind woman who brought him to me said he was only given love a few times a day when fed and to potty. Tears welled up in my eyes at hearing this. Our new puppy greeted our children and grandchildren with enthusiasm and followed me from room to room, never wanting to be left alone. I shared with him my secrets, my fears, and my joy. He watched me as I prayed and shed tears.

When my grandson was six years old, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He sat up confidently and answered, “I want to be like Chad Hennings and play in the NFL. During the week, I will be a spy like James Bond.” Chad is a retired football player from the Dallas Cowboys and has a strong faith in God.

When our family first moved to the area we now live in, we built a home on a one-acre lot. We landscaped most of it, except for one side that no one could see. Our landscaping took a lot of work to maintain, so we rarely mowed the abandoned side. Why do it if no one sees it? I thought.

In order to live a full, authentic life marked by love, we have to sacrifice ourselves for others. We can open our homes to the needy, give financially, and invest our talent and energy for people who need what we have. Recently I read about a man who was on his way to a garage sale when he heard Christian music. He followed the sound of the music and found himself in a church where the choir was rehearsing with the pastor.

The movie “Love Story” starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal debuted in 1970. There is a line in this movie that was voted by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 most quoted lines in film. In the scene, Ryan O’Neal loses his temper and becomes angry at MacGraw, which devastates her. She tells him, “Love is never having to say you’re sorry,” a line he repeats at the end of the film. At the time, it sounds so sweet, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

I sat in my chair watching as the rain cleared. The drops on the leaves were glistening from the sun. A beautiful rainbow appeared. Peace settled in my spirit, as I breathed in the crisp air. Out of the corner of my eye a beautiful butterfly fluttered to a leaf, spreading its bright blue wings. The golden-brown outline of its wings glistened in the light. It fluttered for a few minutes then flew away. Once again, I looked up at the rainbow as great peace engulfed me. Sitting quietly, I heard in my spirit, “This is what I want for My children and you. To rest in Me and take these moments of pleasure to calm your mind.”

We celebrate this season of Jesus’ birth by giving. God gave His Son to us as the greatest of all gifts. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). When we are scurrying around buying gifts for loved ones, do we stop long enough to remember we are co-heirs with Christ, inheriting every good gift He gives us?

She sat regally propped up with pillows, waiting for me. She knew it was rest time and I would soon appear. I opened the door slowly and peered around it, seeing her big smile and open arms. As fast as my four-year-old legs could cross a room, I crawled up into her bed, and felt her warm hug envelope me. I snuggled into her as she stroked my white-blond hair. We talked about things I thought were important, and she told me Bible stories. I shortly fell asleep with my head tucked into her side.

Satan is the great deceiver. He makes evil things look attractive.