Dear Reader:

Author and speaker Brennan Manning came up with a slogan. The slogan is, “I am the one Jesus loves.” It sounds a little arrogant doesn’t it? But he is actually quoting Scripture. Jesus’ closest friend on earth, the disciple named John, is identified in the Gospels as “the one Jesus loved.”

Manning said, “If John were to be asked, ‘What is your primary identity in life?’ he would not reply, ‘I am a disciple, an apostle, an evangelist, an author of one of the four Gospels,’ but rather, ‘I am the one Jesus loves.’

Sociologists have a theory of the looking-glass self: you become what the most important person in your life (wife, father, boss, teacher or mother, etc.) thinks you are. How would our lives change if we truly believed the Bible’s astounding words about God’s love for us, if we looked in the mirror and saw what God sees?

Brennan Manning tells the story of an Irish priest who, on a walking tour of a rural parish, sees an old peasant kneeling by the side of the road, praying. Impressed, the priest says to the man, “You must be very close to God.” The peasant looks up from his prayers, thinks a moment, and then smiles, “Yes, he’s very fond of me.”

Source: Brett Blair, http://www.Sermons.com Adapted from Phillip Yancey, What’s So Amazing about Grace? [pp. 68-69]

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Upon further readings…an “a-ha” moment hit me  while pondering some deductive reasoning patterns.

God first loved us. He taught us what love is and isn’t. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God left us with the greatest commandment ….’To love one another…as He loves us.’

Now think back to the first person on earth who taught us about love and then say Happy Mother’s Day!

William Makepeace Thackeray once said, “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of children.”

Yesterday Anne and I returned to Hollow Tree Nursery and we discovered the most beautiful pink Japanese Maple…yes pink! Lisa told us that she and her mother discovered it one day and watched it grow in beauty. It was one of their favorite things to do together…a hybrid maple that brought smiles and “Ah’s” to everyone who saw it.

Last year Lisa lost her mother and decided to name the pink Japanese maple for her…Dorothy. Before hearing the story Anne and I had been dreaming about having that maple in either one of our yards…but now we knew it was meant to stay right where it was planted….a tribute to a beloved mother looking down the dirt road at every customer arriving at Hollow Tree…welcoming them with its unique beauty…as if Miss Dorothy, herself, was still part of her family’s beloved nursery.

A Shout-out to Lisa and Hollow Tree Nursery….Hollow Tree Nursery is one of the best kept secrets around…where else would I have been able to get four Japanese maple trees for less than a hundred dollars …for all four.

Lisa’s prices and the quality of her plants just can’t be beat…if you have never been….please do so…you will find yourself in a sanctuary of peace and serenity.

HOLLOW TREE NURSERY – Angie’s List  Give Lisa a call…it’s easy to find it in Ridgeville…*and if you go on a Friday or Saturday you can reward yourself, like Anne and I do, by stopping by Duke’s restaurant in Ridgeville and getting the best home grown meal around!

Before I wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day…let me end the blog today with a video and song written by (Matt Goss) a songwriter as a tribute to his mother who battled breast cancer and passed away last year. It is quite inspiring….he gave his song the title (simply)  “Strong.”

…And that is what mothers are all about…being strong for the next generation…setting an example for the importance of faith, strength, and everlasting love in their lives and memories!

Musician Matt Goss and Susan G. Komen® Join Forces to Honor Everyone Who Has Faced Breast Cancer

And now….Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!

So until tomorrow…I hope everyone remembers their mother today…if we are lucky…we end up with several “mothers” who help us find our destination in life….cheering for us along the way!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

My plants all decided to surprise me and bloom, bloom their brightest today ..for Mother’s Day.

Four morning glories welcomed the sun this early Sunday morn… (I am sure) for Mother’s Day!

Several vines have almost reached the top of the porch!

Not to be outdone…the right planter of white/pink morning glories are keeping pace with the periwinkles!

My barrel out front has six red gerber daisies all smiling back at me at the same time…and “Big Red” is back in full bloom….that was a close call this past winter…but there it is!

Joan …the garden chimes you gave me have been singing away the past few days with the stronger breezes from the storm…just beautiful!

* I want to thank the blog readers’ mothers today for having all of you…I am so thankful God chose to put us together on earth at the same time!