Picture of the day - May 13, 2007

Mom's "Mother's Day Cactus"

With its amazing ability to survive and flourish under the harshest of conditions, the cactus is one of the hardiest plants in the world. Many species of cacti live and grow in some of the driest and hottest desert environments on the planet by stockpiling excess water in their tissues for later use in times of little or no rainfall. Simply put, they have the will, the means, and determination to succeed in both good times and bad. In many ways, my mom is like the mighty cactus. During her nearly eight decades on planet earth she has lived and shepherded her large family through some pretty tough times without ever losing her ability to smile or spread her abundant love around to all who would accept it. Through it all she has endured hardships and disappointments that would make many of us simply give up, and like the tiny cactus featured in today's picture, she has blossomed into one of God's most precious creations. Everyone who knows mom loves her, and on this Mother's Day I thought it would be appropriate to present to her this beautiful miniature flowering cactus. It isn't the largest plant around, or even the most fragrant, but like the amazing lady we're honoring today, it is fortified with a steely determination to not only survive, but to blossom and make the world a better and more beautiful place. The Lord willing, mom will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 12. She has seen and done a lot during the time that He has given her so far, and with her steely determination and love of life, I'm sure she isn't anywhere near finished yet! But when God does finally decide that it's time for her to come to be with Him, she'll step into His glorious presence with a joyful heart and without a trace of a memory of even one of the hard times she lived through down here. Our God is a merciful God who sent His only Son down to live on this wicked earth,  enduring unfathomable hardships of His own throughout His short lifetime. Then, when the time came, He willingly died a horrible death on a rugged, wooden cross in order to make amends for our sins so that we unworthy sinners might be saved from an eternity spent burning in a fiery hell. Many decades ago while she was still a teenager, mom accepted the precious gift of life that her beloved Saviour so graciously offered to her. You see, mom has always drawn her amazing strength, resolve and resiliency from the comforting knowledge that regardless of how rough times can get down here, they are only temporary. With the blood of Jesus Christ covering her sins, she can look forward to a day when she will embark on an instantaneous journey to a land where hardships and tears simply do not exist. The light of the Lord will brighten a day that will never end, and happiness beyond measure will be her eternal future. I love you mom... Happy Mother's Day!   Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"