"Overlook Their Imperfections!"

     As I sit out here on my back porch at 6:32 a.m., the most dominant thought that I have pressing my mind, and mixed emotions pulling at my spirit and soul, is a sincere prayer of thankfulness and gratefulness to my 'Heavenly Father,' for allowing my mother, Ann, to continue to be with us here on this earth!  For 6-7 months we have been in a "nightmare" with her as the "victim!"  'Thanksgiving Day,' "2017," she had her first heart attack (1st. of 3-4 in 6-7 mos.)!  Shortly after that, she had "open heart /3-way bypass surgery."  Post surgery, she has not yet recovered.  Over and over again, it would "seem" that she was starting to begin her journey of healing, but, would have setback after setback, with the main culprit of her trouble being 'Diabetes.'  She has been in and out of the hospital, since that first heart attack, and surgery.  Today, if all goes as planned, we plan on transferring her to another hospital, for a second opinion.  Every now and then, despite the faith that God has given me in believing that HIS healing power IS working in mother, a "spirit of fear of living without her" sweeps over me, and I feel overwhelmed!  I cannot imagine, nor do I want to imagine, living my life without her being physically in it!  I honestly, "feel" like I cannot live without her!  However, we know that anything God allows to enter our lives (HIS children), HE has GRACE available to assist us in dealing with it!  So, if, and/or, when, it is her time to go 'Home,' I know (in my spirit) that HIS GRACE shall be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)!  Maybe we'll be "raptured out of here," first?!  Momma is truly a very special lady!  She has a "heart of  gold!"  She is full of life!  She loves "everyone!"  She has always been "hyperactive," until about a year or so prior to that first heart attack.  Don't get me wrong, she and I have had our issues, but, we both have always known that we love each other deeply!  Today is "Mother's Day," and, she had to go back to the hospital again this morning!  Thankfully, we celebrated HER here with the family yesterday!  She, and, we, ALL, had a blessed time being together, except whenever some of her grandchildren were "getting on her" about taking better care of herself, and, temporarily needing some kind of assisted living! She probably ate too much food that she isn't supposed to eat, also!  She has always loved spending time with any of her family!  "Mamaw Ann" will try to do anything she can to be a blessing to her children and grandchildren, well, for anyone, actually!  As I've already written, she has a "heart of gold!"  My entire life, She has always "been there" for me (sometimes to a fault), and for my sister, also, and for our families!  Anyway, Ever since she's been ill, I've realized that I have unintentionally "taken her for granted," for several reasons, but, mostly because she is such a giving soul!  I have asked 'The Lord' to forgive me, and, I've been attempting to show her that I appreciate her, by not "taking her for granted," now, and, purposely expressing my love, etc., to her more.  In the past, her hyperactivity, and "pushiness" (toward me - in my opinion), would sometimes "get on my nerves," and, she could probably tell, at times, HOWEVER, her illness has caused me to "see" her differently.  I realize that most of her "pushiness" is motivated by her love and concern, etc. for me, and others.  She just really cares about people, and TRIES to help God take care of them, especially, her "loved ones!"  So, evidently, the purpose of this 'blog post' is to honor my mother (sadly, after "Mother's Day"), and, to encourage all of us to consciously not "take for granted" the people whom we love, and if they "get on our nerves" a little at times, to choose to say a little prayer for God's help to overlook it, and be nice to them anyway, NOT acting frustrated, annoyed, and the such!  My father's been gone 11 years now, and, I'd give almost anything to have him here, and for him to "get on my nerves," again, worrying about something!  He was a "worrier," and, it drove me crazy!  He could always find something about which to worry, even in the best of circumstances!  Ha!  Thankfully, he is not worrying anymore, because he's in Heaven!  I "took him for granted," too, in some ways,  unfortunately!  But, like mom, he knew that I loved him, by my showing him in special, little ways, in my style (gifts, cards, written words, etc.)!  He would be doing a "balancing act" between worrying and faith, right now, with mom's heart problems!  I'm glad that he doesn't have to deal with all of it!  It is true that "the little foxes spoil the vine," (Song of Solomon 2:15) IF, we LET them, and, I regret letting them too often with my parents!  My parents are/were, both, "good," yet, imperfect, as we all are, people, who love/loved Tina and me the best that they can/could, and, retrospectively, I wish that I would have wore "rose colored glasses" when dealing with them, in the past, instead of "seemingly" often recognizing their faults!  Some of the credit for this behavior goes to them for "spoiling," my sister, Tina, and I, SO!  Ha!  As I've already written, I have been reminding myself to "put on" my "rose colored glasses" whenever I interact with momma, and other people, these days, and, I am enjoying people much more than previously!  A few other things that I now realize with which I "took for granted," in the past, are:  20/20 vision, moving without back, etc. pain, having horses, ETC.!  Hopefully, and prayerfully, the message of the words in this 'blog post' shall encourage a reader, or readers, to appreciate the loved ones who remain in his/her life/lives, ETC., and, possibly consider having some "rose colored glasses" "on hand!?!?"  I never regret showing love, and overlooking a fault in, said by, or done by, someone, however, I almost always regret "knit picking," and, responding to someone in some sort of negative way!  The people whom our sovereign, omniscient, loving, etc., God, puts in our lives are strategically placed there as part of HIS flawless plan!  Oftentimes, HE uses "certain" types of people in our lives as "spiritual sandpaper," to file down the rough edges of our humanness.  I have evidently needed a lot of sanding within my being!  Ha!  I'm pretty sure that I have been used by HIM as a sanding instrument on some people, also!  Ha, again!!  Anyway, remember, "if you can't be with all of the ones that you love (if some of them are in Heaven), LOVE THE ONES YOU CAN BE WITH," and, "shower the people you love with love...!" ...Until next time!