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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day!

holding hands


Ever since I was eight years old, Mother's Day has come and gone with many different and mixed emotions. You see, my Mom died when I was eight. And Mother's Day was never the same again. Though I eventually had a stepmother, I was old enough to know that this was "fake." I went through the motions, but my thoughts always went back to my "real" Mom.

Being single, I never had the joy of being a Mom either. So on this day, I feel a little out of place. No one to send flowers to, and I certainly don't get any!!!!

Please understand, I'm not having a pity party here. God has been so good to me in so many ways. But He has also given me the sensitivity to see that there are many women out there who hurt terribly on this day. Some very close and personal friends have lost their Moms recently, and this day is so hard go through. Others have lost a daughter, a son, a grandmother, etc. It is these ladies that I'm drawn to. And it is these ladies that I post this poem for.

The Time of Sorrow

The time of sorrow -
Has it come today?
Has it entered uninvited,
Settled in, it seems, to stay
. . .Forever?

'Tis not a gift, you know.
It is not yours to keep,
But lent to you just for a while;
And though it seems to rob you of your smile,
You will not always weep. . .
For your sorrow is not your own,
Just lent to you but for a little while.

Use it. . . be not angry or ashamed
That He should think 'tis sorrow that you need.
One day, when all its purposes are through,
And there's no further work that it can do,
It will be taken. . .even as you plead.

Taken, for 'twas only lent to you,
To bind you closer than you ever knew,
Closer to the One who feels it all,
Touched by all your heartaches. . .
Large or small.

So let sorrow do its work
And bide its time,
For someday soon again
The sun will shine.
And when it does, I think that you will see,
That sorrow was a friend, if that can be.

You are changing -- changing still today,
For you have grown more tender
On the way.
And when sorrow comes and takes another's hand,
Your softened heart will cry,
"I understand!"
--Cora Eelman

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Cora,

Thank you taking thyme to visit today, your comments are so precious to me. It was someone just like you that my prayers were turned to today. I was not able to be with any of my family this year so I spent some time in prayer today, for those who are really hurting this Mother's Day...God knows all and thankfully listens to all prayers.

May your week be filled with His love!

Kathi :)

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

You are such a Blessing my friend!! I pray you feel it!!~Wendy

Anonymous said...

I, too, feel the emotion of this day... never being able to have children myself...
I also think of my own mother, who lost her mother when she was 12... a grandmother I never got to know.
Thank you for this wonderful poem, Cora.
Blessings...

Farmhouse Blessings said...

I'm so very sorry that you are hurting today dear friend. And even so, you use your gift to help others who are hurting as well. You are a blessed woman, Cora.

Lea

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

I am so sorry for a day that brings you pain. I love your poem and the words you used to express the feelings for others. blessings to you, Kathleen

*Linda Pinda* said...

Cora:
You know how much I miss my mom today. But I don't know if you realize how much I look to you at those moments when I would have turned to her. It is such a gift and a blessing to have your nurturing spirit in my life.

I am so often amazed at how much love you pour out on others despite the heartache you have endured. I don't know that any of us will ever have the answers to why we are faced with certain sorrows, but I do trust with all my heart that God allowed them as a means to mold us into who we are meant to be.

I wish I could just hold the little girl you once were and fill her with all the comfort and love she so deserved. But I am so thankful to the woman who has walked in her shoes and used her own life's experience to show us all what true love and true mothering is.

I love you so much... *Linda*

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Dear Cora,

You are such a sweetheart! I love the poem you wrote which touched my heart deeply. Thank you for sharing such a pricless & personal poem with us. Mother's Day is always bitter sweet for me since my Mother passed away and 1 1/2 years ago we lost a dear young man who was like a son to us in a plane crash. I have learned one can not rush grieving.

Do you know I think of you each day Cora? I have met such wonderful woman through blogging & MaryJanes Farm and you are one of them!

Have a blessed week and I will be thinking of you!

Hugs,
Maryjane

naomisnotions said...

I'm sorry Cora, I didn't know about your mother. I too, look to you as a motherly figure in my life.

I love you very much!

(((HUGS)))

Naomi

Renna said...

What a beautiful poem!

My closest friend is a woman who also lost her mother at a very young age. I think that is one of the things that brought us together. Though I do still have mine, I've always felt a pull to those who lost their mothers too soon.

Isn't it wonderful that despite the losses we face here, God is always there for us?

Kay-The Rustic Cottage said...

I'm sorry that you had a sad day. I lost my mom when I was 17 and I still feel that loss every Mother's Day. Sending a big hug to you my friend!!

You are such a blessing - the poem was so beautiful.

Paula said...

Beautiful words, Cora... I love it when you share your heart.

Anonymous said...

Cora, you are such a special lovely person....a true mom in every way that really counts, God bless you richly in the coming years and when we are sitting at the Marriage Feast, I want to give you a hug in person, what a celebration that will be!

Unknown said...

That is beautiful, Cora. My closest friend lost her mother recently and Mother's Day was difficult for her. Thank you for reminding us to be sensitive to those around us who are hurting. And to not resist the work that sorrow can do in our lives...

Charity