Early Monday morning I received some very sad news.  A friend had passed away unexpectedly.  The last few days have been spent remembering his young life of 48 years and how he brought joy to all who were blessed to know him.  You see, my friend had a way of making you laugh either when he was sharing stories of his childhood or when he was explaining something that may have happened to him at the office.

It was not that my friend was a comedian or that he was even trying to be one.  He just had a way of bringing laughter to any given situation. What made his stories so funny was how he was able to laugh at himself and how he wrinkled his nose when he laughed!  All who knew him will remember his laughter.   Even now, I can still hear him laughing.

When I sat in my quiet office today, I could still hear him laughing.  His office is right behind my office and although there is a wall, I would often just hear him chuckling away.  I could only guess that someone was in his office and he was sharing one of his stories with them.  Or perhaps. they might have been sharing a story of their own and he was just so full of joy that he laughed with you.  Even now, I can still hear him laughing.

Needless to say, my friend will be missed.  No longer will I meet up with him in the break room as we made fresh pots of coffee together.   All the while, we fussed and laughed because the persons who had been there before us obviously took the time to pour the last cups of coffee but did not take the time to start a fresh pot.  No longer will I run into him near the copier machines and we joke about something that may have happened to us during the work day.  No longer will I hear stories of how his mother raised him and his brothers and the things they would get into.  And, no longer will we pass each other around the office and just look at each other and laugh without saying a word!

Although tears have been shed the last few days and there is a heaviness in my heart, I am so thankful for my friend and the time we spent just laughing.   I am thankful for the times we were able to take something serious and make each other laugh about it.  I am so very thankful that even now, I can still hear him laughing!

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To every thing there is a season. . .

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

(Exodus 2:7-10) Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall  I go and get one of the  Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go” she answered.  So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.  Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son.  She named him Moses, saying. “I drew him out of the water.” 

When Moses was born he was destined to have two mothers.

Two mothers to care for him and two mothers to love him.

  A Hebrew woman gave birth to him.

 An Egyptian woman raised him as her own in Pharoah’s palace.  

 These two mothers made choices that were all a part of God’s plan for Moses. 

 They both were chosen to be his mother.

And, they both loved him as best they could.

Most of us are blessed to be raised and loved by the mother who gave birth to us. 

Then some of us are also blessed to know other women who are like mothers to us.

Grandmothers, aunts, older sisters and other kind-hearted women who have played major roles in our lives.

Mothers are caring and nurturing.

Mothers are the women who encourage us and inspire us.

A mother’s strength guides us through the good times and bad times.

A mother’s love is unconditional.

Mothers are chosen by God to help fulfill our purpose in life.

I thank God for my mother for she gave birth to me.  And, I thank Him for my Othermama!  For it was my Othermama who drew me out of the water and cared for me.

To all Mothers, I pray you have a Happy Mother’s Day!