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Ecclesiastes 11:5 – As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (NIV)

Luke 15:10 – In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (NIV)

My first job was in a Christian organization. Even though I didn't know the Lord, I worked at this agency for nine years. It was here that I met my husband to be, and we were married at the church across the road. The man I married had accepted the Lord many years before. He had strayed from church when we met, but never stopped believing. His immediate family attended church every Sunday, and both before and after we were married, we would join them for Sunday lunch. Not knowing the Lord, I had no idea that they had accepted a non-Christian into the family. I wasn't to figure this out for a number of years. We had two boys, and other than talk of baptism/baby dedication, there was no other pressure to go to church from his family.

In fact, the veil covered my eyes so much that I didn't even notice that the boys were being taught about Jesus daily and had even come to accept the Lord. Then it was my turn for Jesus to reach down and touch my life. He did it through my mother-in-law. I know that we will all never forget that day when the phone call came — it was one of those moments when you will always remember what you were doing at that exact time. She called to say that she had been diagnosed with cancer, and that the prognosis was that she had only a few months to live.

As the disease progressed, she was unable to attend church, so I offered to sit with her as her husband went. I would sit there Sunday after Sunday doing my knitting as she slept — or so I thought. I believe now that she wasn't sleeping all the time — she was praying! During the few months that we had with her, she was so calm and accepting. I could not get my head around this.

Not having been to many funerals, I was not sure what to expect, but what I witnessed sure wasn't something that I would have imagined. It was a celebration of her life. I couldn't understand this. I went to bed that night, and awakening a few hours later, I went to sit in the living room. There, I experienced what I thought was a heart attack, with pain so severe that I could hardly breathe. Then it left as quickly as it had come. I was left feeling such a sense of peace, knowing in my heart that it was going to be okay. I uttered a simple prayer and accepted Jesus. The next morning, I told my husband, who responded that he had also had a similar experience that night, and he had turned back to the Lord. We told the boys that we would be attending church on the following Sunday, and their remark was, "What took you so long?"

Many Sundays have come and gone since that day. I am so grateful for the love of my husband's mother that she accepted me just as I was, and didn't preach, but only prayed. I know that from heaven, like the angels, she rejoiced that night when I gave my life to Jesus.

This Mother's Day, say a prayer for a mother who is in your life or give thanks for one who has gone to be with Jesus. Say a prayer for a mother who does not yet know eternal life, or for a woman who has not yet become a mom.

Psalm 116:16-17 – Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. (NIV 2011)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for reaching down and touching our lives, though at the time we may not understand Your ways. Thank You that if we are faithful to trust You, You will reveal Your ways to us just as You have done for those dear ones who have gone before us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles