Daily Devotions: A Special Day - 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 

If she was still alive, my family and I would be celebrating my mother’s 80^th birthday today. Sadly, she suddenly passed away 21 years ago when she was 59. She never got to see most of her grandchildren and never knew that our branch of the family moved to America.

It was my brother Andy who reminded me of this special birthday on Facebook. For some weird reason, I thought my mother was born in 1933 instead of 1931. Since the early 70s I’ve always believed she was two years younger than she actually was. Don’t ask me why – the 70s were not the most memorable years of my life. Sometimes I wonder how I ever survived them.

I do however remember my mother’s care. Despite her mental and physical illnesses, she still did her best to care for our whole family. She hardly ever slept, so late at night one of us kids used to stay up and talk with her. I can still visualize those precious moments sitting in the small kitchenette at the table. She was usually drinking tea and smoking a cigarette as we talked about anything and everything. It may not have been a healthy environment, but emotionally it was comforting. Those late night chats in the kitchen are amongst my dearest and most precious memories.

So today I’m honoring my mum and thanking God for her presence in my life. Eva McClay Stuart is eighty years young today…J

Prayer:                        Lord, we thank You for our mothers who gave us life and brought us into the world. We may only have had them for a short while in our lives, but whatever care that they gave us so that we could live our own lives, we truly thank You and them for. Bless our loved ones who are with us today and help us to cherish the memories of those we miss. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a photograph of John’s mother, Eva. This was taken in her early twenties.