I’m not sure how often it happens, but this is the first year I remember Mother’s Day and Pentecost landing on the same Sunday. Could be because I only recently started following the church calender more closely. Yesterday was also the first Mother’s Day I’ve been fortunate enough to celebrate with my mother in several years. So Pentecost, the day the historic church celebrates Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, for me was a reminder of how the Holy Spirit has used my mother in my life.

Several years ago I had an experience I will never forget. While going through a rough couple of months during my freshman year at Hendrix College, I started to follow Christ again. I had started reading my Bible again and praying more, searching for God’s answer on whether or not I was in the right place. It was during one of those times of prayer while sitting in my dorm room that I heard God tell me to go to the Moody Bible Institute. It was the closest thing to the audible voice of God that I have ever experienced, but I wasn’t quite sure who it was.

I thought that my overactive imagination was messing with my head. Moody didn’t even seem in the realm of possibilities at that time and I didn’t even want to go there. It seemed more likely that I was looking for greener pastures because i was going through a rough time, ironically Moody didn’t really seem all that green. I was almost positive it was not God, almost.

Later that night I called home, going back and forth during our conversation, but eventually deciding to mention what I’d heard to my mom. She wasn’t as quick to dismiss it as I was. We talked through where I was with God, how He leads us, and the possibility of a transfer to Moody. Long story short, I graduated from Moody a couple of years ago.

I can now see that was where God was leading me and how He used my mom, in that conversation and others, to help me follow Him there. Most of the people I talked to about that decision encouraged me to finish at Hendrix and go to med school like I had planned. It seems almost crazy that of all people my parents, who are the most concerned about me, were the most encouraging of me dropping out.

I have a friend who says that the greatest gift most boomers can give to the cause of Christ is not their time or money, its their children. Now I’ve known a number of really phenomenal parents, but it seems from those that I’ve interacted with that holding your children with an open hand and trusting God to lead them is one of the most difficult things to do. In my life and the lives of my siblings I’ve seen my parents do it again and again.

Thanks Mom.