This is what Love and Life Looks Like

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." (Jeremiah 1:5) Oh, yes, my friends – God isn’t surprised by surprises. In fact, He is delicately, intricately, lovingly, and carefully at work in our mama’s womb from the moment of our conception. And these photos are proof of what love, support and life look like when a young person and her family value that precious, God-given life. Is it easy? I'm sure it isn't -- but it will be oh, so worth every minute of choosing life.

Last week, a dear friend sent me a private FB message asking if I could help her with a proclamation she was making to the world. I was surprised by the story, but I was so proud of her for being such a loving, caring and supportive mom to her 16-year-old daughter, but also because she led us all in the value and sanctity of life.

I was able to pray with her a few weeks ago when she came for prayer for several things -- but this one wasn't mentioned. Her hands were already full including the passing on of her beloved father. I love how deeply my friend loves. I asked if I could share my suggestions for her proclamation. Obviously she said "yes".

"Amidst all the concerns and worries about all that’s going in our world, the Torres Family were blessed to welcome a beautiful, brand new life into our home on Sunday, September 6th, 2020 at 8:05 pm. Needless to say, a lot changed for the Torres household when precious baby boy, Elijah, made his debut, making Secily, a mom, Andrew and Seth, uncles, and for Richard and I, grandparents. So, this is our new US – with new life, joy and laughter brimming in our home!

This is Us, today, but just a few months ago, when we heard the shocking news of our teenage daughter embarking on an unplanned journey, our first reaction was tears, fears and concerns. But, after the initial shock, we chose to welcome this precious addition to our home and family. We are so grateful for the unconditional support and prayers from our family and our church family who embraced the journey wholeheartedly with us.

We are so proud of our daughter for choosing life at the young age of 16, and only three weeks after my dad’s passing. So, please join our entire Torres family as we welcome Elijah Candelario, weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces and 18 inches long. Sweet and beautiful Elijah, you have given us reasons for so much joy in a time of grieving from the loss of your great grandpa, Candelario. We love you so much and are so thankful God gave us you!
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:11"

I know this story isn't the same for everyone when making the tough choices for life. Some young women don't have supportive families like the Torres family. Some don't have resources to provide for their prenatal care, the birth of the baby and the ongoing care that follows, but God who delicately and intricately formed that precious baby, is the same God who cares for us all of our lives. He has plans for each life and in partnering with Him, we'll find the support, the resources, the strength and, if for the best, a loving couple, unable to give birth naturally, is waiting and longing to adopt. Living with no regrets is key to loving life. Life is precious. And so are you.

If I Were Rich, I Would......

Have you ever thought those thoughts or played that game?
Well, yesterday morning, I was giving myself a manicure and I thought “If I were rich I know exactly what I would do. I’d go for a manicure AND a pedicure every other week! And, maybe add a massage to that, too!

When I do get to experience that nurturing, I embrace relaxing in the massage chair at the nail salon. Rarely do I go for a massage but when I do, it is a time of knowing that those knots and kinks are going to be worked out. Relief is coming and I’m rejuvenated.

As I finished doing my own nails, I couldn't help but think about the Master's touch on my life and express to Him my gratitude for the ability to even do my own nails. I don’t need to play a game of “If I were rich,” because I am rich. I don’t need someone to nurture me because I am nurtured and loved by God. I am the recipient of the “incomparable riches of His grace” that Paul talked about in Ephesians 2:6-7. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

God’s love worked out the knots and kinks of worry, concern, fear, and insecurity in me. He made me whole, both spiritually and emotionally. His healing touch led me to show compassion for others hurting in the same way.

God’s touch on my life set me free to tell others how His touch soothed the rough edges of my heart and set me free to celebrate how He worked out the knots of unforgiveness and helped me to stand strong. Believe me when I say – what you see in my daily blog posts is the work of a Master Massager and Healer and though He doesn’t really fit into the category of manicurist or pedicurist or masseuse, He wraps me in a warm blanket of love and tenderness and holds my hands in the most loving ways and assures me I am His beloved daughter.

Maybe you could use a little nurturing today. Maybe you’d like to step in for a sweet touch from the Master. His faithful love nurtures us, rejuvenates us and gives us relief from the common, everyday pressures of life and the overwhelming, how-can-I-make-it-another-day times. He is waiting to nurture you. It’s His specialty because you are His precious, beloved child.
When we are WHOLE – soul, spirit, and body – we don’t ever have to play the “If I were rich” game ever again, because we are rich beyond measure.

1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

"They Opened Their Mouths With Wisdom!" Hey Girls! That's You and Me

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms! That includes all women who have been gifted with the "maternal instinct" of nurturing and caring for others. One of the greatest joys in life is to be a mother to my own children and to those God put into my life "to mother". There is something unique and special about how God designed a woman’s heart to love tenderly, teach wisely, and nurture selflessly -- and it's so much more than just my own little brood -- though I'm ever so grateful for each and every one I get to call mine.

I believe that all of us are called to mother another. In that sense, "mother" is a verb, an action, a gift we give to others. We mother whether we’re married or not or whether we’ve ever experienced giving birth or not. We mother those who cross the threshold of our homes and lives. We mother those who reach out to us on social media. We mother because we’re called to it -- throwing out a lifeline to a drowning friend, child, teenager, young mother, a grandmother, or that stranger who we notice is holding on to life for dear life. We mother because we can’t help ourselves. We were born to mother.

We mother because there are people who trust us and our keen awareness that "my life is far greater than us four and no more". We mother those we work, go to school or church with, live next door to or who meet us at the grocery store and need a soft, safe place to land and come undone. We mother because we’ve watched our moms and grandmas take food to someone's home or opened her door to a hurting soul. We mother when someone needs a shoulder to cry on when the negative diagnosis comes or the loved one passes away. We mother when a friend's child runs away from home, and she wants to run away from home, too!

This is what we do. We love with all the genuine affection in our hearts, and we delight in honoring each other. We give ourselves away — little bits and pieces of who we are, of our courage, of our deep faith. We bear down and we find ways to breathe life into people desperate for air. Every single woman who loves, sacrifices, encourages, tends, teaches, cares, raises, praises, shapes, forms, and nurtures, no matter how we come to be connected with them, is doing an amazing, mothering work. And today, Mother's Day, while I celebrate the most amazing mom and mother-in-law and my two amazing daughters of my seven grands, I celebrate you, too! I believe in you and champion you. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Happy Mother’s Day!

Proverbs 31:26 "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back

They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back
For those who have followed the tales of my dove family who took up occupancy on my fireplace vent on my patio several weeks ago, I'm pleased to report the babies are on their own and have left the nest. I couldn't check on them until Monday morning since I had been away for a week and didn't get home until Sunday night. The nest was empty so I knew they had finally learned to fly and had left the nest. I saw the poop and debris left behind and determined to get out my super-powered cleaning solution and remove the nest and all the other gunk. But to my surprise, as I sat on my patio, I saw the "teenagers" (Yikes! I was surprised to see, how in just a week's time, they had grown so much!) come back home. I'm acting like a proud grandmother because I couldn't help but show you their photo! LOL! They must have remembered the kind homeowner who checked on them daily, and they were fine with my visit. I am unceasingly amazed at God’s creation.

Of course, the spiritual and natural connotations hit me in these tender moments. All of us develop, mature and become confident enough to leave the "nest" where we were nurtured and where we developed the sense of being able to make it in this world on our own. Maybe it was when we went to college or joined the armed forces, or got married, or were simply ready to tackle the world on our own. But, like those birds, many of us enjoy going back home for a while. We need that cozy, warm, safe place where we didn't have to make our own way. There were hugs and cheers and encouragement when we went home, and for many of us, we needed much more than just a short visit, we needed to stay a while and regroup and rethink where we'd go from here. We needed to get our confidence back.

Our relationship with God is similar to the birds AND us returning to our nests. Oftentimes, we're strong, making it just fine on our own, handling life and all that it throws at us. But then there are those times of disappointment, discouragement, fear and these strong spiritual beings find ourselves languishing and we need a pep talk and a shoulder to cry on and the familiarity of someone we love and trust to wrap their arms around us and tell us "Everything's gonna be alright!" We can count on our loving Father every time for that assurance, but after a little coddling, He gives us a nudge out the door (or the nest) to resume as the strong, determined, full-of-faith children He raised us to be. St. Paul said it like this: "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

God gave us everything we need to be strong, mature, powerful and empowered overcomers in this life. He gave us every tool, every promise, every key we need for success through the cross of Christ and His Word. Romans 8:29 says "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." God lovingly welcomes us to return to His nest when we need a refresher on how much He loves and cares for us, but His Gospel message brings more than good news to us. It bids us to fly AND it gives us wings to do so!

My Greatest Blessings Call Me "Mom" and "Nana"

Day 127 of Photo Inspirations -- My Greatest Blessings Call Me "Mom" and "Nana"
Happy Mother's Day to all Moms....and that includes all women who have been gifted with that "maternal instinct" of nurturing and caring for others.  I not only have been blessed with my precious children by birth, but I'm also called "Mom" by many others that have afforded me the opportunity to mother them as well.   And the best part of being a Mom is God has given us the promise of not being alone in doing it.

Moms are the everyday heroes and He is the divine power that gives us everything we need the moment we need it.  I'm proof positive that we survive every challenge and every situation.....and believe me.....there were many to overcome, but God's grace equipped me for conquering.  Mamas and Moms.....you've got this!   May His grace, peace, and love surround you this Mother's Day, making you feel as special-- and exceptional--as you truly are.
Much love and blessings,
Donna Wuerch