Happy Mothers Day to Me!!

I have been dreading Mothers Day. I admit it. I have pouted all week. I even went out and bought myself a too-expensive rose bush as a present because I knew that (poor me) the kids wouldn't be able to get me anything.
Yesterday I got a card from Mark in Japan. In it he wrote: "Stacey, you are a mother of mothers. Happy Mothers Day!". This from a man who is writing two novels simultaneously and has never been known to be at a loss for words! This morning when he called, I could not help but giggle about the card. He sheepishly explained that he was in a hurry to get it in the mail.
At church this morning, out Pastor's sermon was about being "underappreciated" (1 Sam.23). In it, he relayed David's experience of being unappreciated by those people he helped and those in whose land he was trying to find refuge as King Saul sought to kill him. The pastor explained that, just in time,God sent an encourager to remind David of God's faithfulness. Jonathan, David's best friend, came to cheer him on. As I listend to the sermon it did not take too long for the Lord to convict me of my self-centeredness this week. Good grief! There are plenty of people who are in need of a little encouragement! And I have been so busy throwing a pity party that I've forgotten...
Forgotten that cheering someone else on would make my own race a little easier to run....
This afternnoon I had a chance to do some cheering. And it felt great!
I heated up the grill for hotdogs and hamburgers and the other "single moms" in the wardroom came over with their children and a dish to share. Before we knew it, we had a table covered with food. And it wasnt long before everyone forgot (at least for a while) the heavy loads we bear.
The three gals from my bible study were here. One of them mentioned how our weekly times together had really helped her get through this deployment. We all nodded in agreement. Its true. And those bible study nights have spilled over into coffee dates and family movie nights and, like today, holiday celebrations. I praise God for that! Just when we most needed it, God has brought us as encouragers to one another.
I'm sorry that I wasted time this week in self-pity. All along, God knew what a perfect Mothers Day He had planned for me!