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"Walking Through the Valley - Jesus Knows the Way!"

4/22/2014

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"Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  -Matthew 11:28

I recently met a precious mom for dinner, and we talked openly and honestly about how the journey of grief is like a walk through the "valley of the shadow of death," as is described in Psalm 23.



Only 1-1/2 years since she experienced the loss of her beloved daughter, this precious mom shared how she still suffers and struggles with understanding why her daughter was taken from her and she asked me if she will always feel the way she feels now. We talked for quite awhile about grief and we also talked about the comfort and hope that we have in Christ that it is possible to find our way out of "shadows."  

Walking through the "valley of the shadow of death," can be emotionally exhausting, and it is not a walk that we should try to make alone, but rather in the company of our Good Shepherd. As I have walked with Jesus these many years since Kevin's death, I have often sensed Him calling and urging me to trust Him alone and to enter into His "holy rest." Early in my grieving, I acknowledged my need of Him. I reached out of the "shadows of death" for His hand, leaned into Him (and sometimes He carried me) and He tenderly and carefully led me  toward "still waters and green pastures."

Psalm 23 is a beautiful and powerful passage of scripture that reminds us that we are not alone, that we have a loving shepherd who not only understands our sorrow, but who truly and deeply cares for us. He promises that He will be with us always and that He will lead and guide us out of the "valley."  May we admit our need of Him and invite Him to be our Shepherd today and everyday.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
They rod and Thy staff, they comfort me;
Thou does prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou has anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows;
Surely goodness and lovingkindess will follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." 

May our "cup overflow," as we walk with Him, accepting and experiencing His "goodness and lovingkindness" all the "days of (our) lives." And, may we look forward to the day when we "dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" - Amen!

With Faith, Hope and Love,
Angie "a mom like you"
www.amotherlikeme.info
amotherlike me@gmail.com





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"Eyes That See"

4/17/2014

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"Open the eyes of my heart Lord that I may truly SEE!"

Three pairs of glasses and a magnifying glass are lined up side-by-side on my desk; all have different levels of magnification for the purpose of helping me to see what I need to see.

As I age, and perhaps because I have spent so much time on the computer over these many years, my eyesight is fading.

In comparison, the "eyes of my heart" are wide open, and I am seeing many things that God wants to me see and understand more clearly.

In considering the importance and blessing of seeing with the eyes of my heart, I am mindful today of a beautiful soul named Judson and his Mommy and Daddy, Christina and Drake Levasheff, and his sister, Jessie. Christina and Drake Levasheff's account of the story of their precious son, Judson, can be found at www.storyofjudson.com and Christina's book "Eyes That See" is inspiring and encouraging, full of honesty, faith and hope (available at www.amazon.com). 

I met Christina and Drake, when we were all working at Biola University in the 1990's. At first meeting and with subsequent connections, I recall that there was just something special about these two young people - they radiated the light and love of the Lord, and their signature features were their smiles - such beautiful smiles!

Christina and Drake did not know that they caught my eye and my attention at Biola, but they did, and I often wondered if 

I would ever see them again after I no longer was at Biola. Little did I know the Lord's plan for us to reconnect with one another; after I learned of the loss of their precious son, Judson; Christina and I connected online, and over the years we have shared something of our journey through grief and she has been a source of encouragement and inspiration along the way.

Judson's story of hope in suffering is remarkable, and it is always an honor for me to recommend the book "Eyes That See - Judson's Story of Hope in Suffering" that Christina wrote. There are many comments on the inside flaps of the book shared by people who have read the book and who have been moved by it, one comment that stands out in my mind, at this time, is written by David E. Snyder of La Mirada, CA . . . "I feel like Judson's story should be required reading for everyone. There's so much there for all of us to learn and ponder about the value of life here on earth, life in heaven, faith, prayer,suffering, love, and so much more. It's heartbreaking but amazing reading."

Today, I am thanking God that He gives His people "eyes that see" and for Judson Drake Levasheff, his mommy and daddy and his sister who continue his legacy of HOPE in Christ! 


"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see YOU!"

With Faith, Hope and Love,
Angie (a mom like you)
www.amotherlikeme.info
amotherlikeme@gmail.com









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From Life to Everlasting Life!

4/14/2014

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Early this morning, a thought (To Do) came to my mind;  "I need to call the cemetary in California and have them place flowers on Kevin's graveside for Easter."

My reaction and response to going into the file cabinet to retrieve Kevin's graveside information caught me by surprise. When I reached for the folder marked "RE: Kevin's death,"  I felt like I was hit by a dump truck of emotions - "Kevin's death" - once again faced with the reality that my son is gone from this earth. Gone from me. 



The word "death," is defined in the Merriman Dictionary as "the end of life, exit, passage and passing"  and I am comforted and encouraged that the definition includes the word "passing."  To die then is to end life here, make an exit and pass into Eternity. And, I know that those of us who believe that Jesus is the "way, truth and life" that He will be waiting for us, His people.

How do I know this is true? Because God tells us in His Word in so many scriptural passages . . . 
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life." 
-John 3:16, 
"For this is the will of My Fathr, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." -John 6:40
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." -John 6:47
"Jesus said . . . "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" -John 11:25-26

Easter has always been a special time of year, when my spirit and faith is renewed and strengthened. When I think of Kevin now fully awake and free from the earth's gravity and worldly pull, though my heart hurts for missing him, I am reminded that though he is gone from me, he is now present with the LORD!

It's Monday, and with the reality that the penalty for man's sin is death, I am looking forward to all that lies ahead in this blessed Passion week. This is a week to remember and celebrate victory over "death" all because of Jesus, the Redeemer King! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow and say the word "death" with HOPE! Hallelujah! Amen! 

With Faith, Hope and Love,
Angie "a mom like you"
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
amotherlikeme.info

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"Eternity in Our Hearts"

4/12/2014

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"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart . . . "  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Randy Alcorn, "In Light of Eternity"
"We all have moments when we sense that we are on the edge of eternity. And we know in those moments that we're not made for this world, but for another world—where we'll see the King at last. 'For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal' (2 Corinthians 4:18)."


When our son, Kevin, was born and I held him in my arms for the first time, the first words I spoke to to him were
"Hello, Kevin from Heaven!"  Little did I know then how prophetic these words would be, as he has surely turned our hearts toward Eternity in a profound and life-changing way.  

Because of the reality and assurance in God's inerrant living Word that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life" 
my heart is settled and confident that I will one day be a permanent citizen of the Kingdom of God - fully present and participating in all that is holy and glorious, and it gives me much joy and peace to imagine Kevin there now.

Today, in anticipation and celebration of the reality of Heaven and Eternal Life, I am reminded of Randy Alcorn's book 

"In Light of Eternity."  A beloved friend gave me this book a few months after Kevin's passing, and after reading the first few paragraphs, I couldn't put it down and God used this book to draw me away from the edge of the tomb, uplifting and transporting me toward the edge of Eternity with renewed faith and hope.

Envisioning Heaven in an expanded and more familiar way through Randy Alcorn's spiritual eyes, and the Scripture that he presents in support of the revelations he writes about, I re-discovered a deep longing to continue to live my life with a  heavenly perspective; not just because Kevin has gone on before me,  but because of HEAVEN itself and the promise that is where I belong.

We have a plaque in our home that reads "Life takes us to unexpected places, but LOVE brings us home." This plaque is a reminder to us that no matter where our family is living, near or far, love will always "bring us home," back to one another where we belong.  It also remind us that this world is not our home, we are sojourners (travelers) who are given an allotted and limited amount of time to make our way on a journey toward our true love (Jesus) and our eternal home (Heaven).



May this Easter week awaken the reality of Heaven in our hearts - that place where Jesus and our children point the way and invite us to move ever closer toward the everlasting love and light of God. 

With Love and Eternity in my Heart,
Angie "a mom like you"
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
Connect with other moms on Facebook (befriend Angie Green/AMotherLikeMe)





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    These blog pages are written by and for moms who have suffered the loss of a child.

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