My Mom and My God

I’m feeling a bit guilty. We just celebrated Mother’s Day last week. I was so busy making sure my daughters, daughter-in-law, and the other mothers I know were properly acknowledged that I never thought about my own mother. 

My mom has been gone for seventeen years and it’s so interesting how the person who was once the source and summit of your existence, could one day be forgotten. Then I realized, she could never really be forgotten. Maybe I don’t consciously recall her often, but my actions, my values, my way of navigating life, my sense of humor, and my nose bring her back to life every day.

I think that same thing goes for our spiritual lives. I feel guilty sometimes that I don’t consciously recall or acknowledge God in my daily life. I don’t pause throughout the day to just breathe deeply the presence of God. I don’t let the knowledge of His presence and care and love change the way I face challenges, the way I love others, the way I navigate life.

The true source and summit of my existence goes unappreciated and unrecognized too often.

Then again, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves for the times when the world gets in the way of us recognizing and acknowledging God’s presence. It’s just a part of being human and living in this distracting world. Our job is to let our actions, our values, and the way we navigate life acknowledge God’s presence. We may not verbalize it, but actions should speak louder than words, right?

Just as I feel and know my mom is a part of my very being, tucked away in every corner and every smile, deep down, I feel and know that God is too. I hope my actions tell the world that.

But sometimes, I just want to say it out loud.

I love you mom.

I love you God.

Joan