Today I posted this on my Facebook: Got a burning quesion. Need help. Should my hubby spend Mother’s Day with me and the kids? Or with his mother? Whadya think? Soon comments rolled in. Here’s a smattering:
Nanette: This is always my question! We always spend it with the older moms since they put their time in and are now in a place of honor! But, its always been a bit hectic!
Me: While listening to WMBI, I heard a DJ mention that kids should spend time with their own moms. So my hubby would visit his mom (1.5 hours away) and our kids with me. But this seems weird.
Traci: Both!
Me: When my mom was alive, Mother’s Day was celebrated in honor of her and me. With my in-laws, I feel like an intruder even though I know this isn’t the intention. Just makes me wanna cry.
JoAnne: I would say enjoy your children treating you special like a princess with daddy helping them plan it all out and then have hubby spend the day with his mother. From my perspective, you never want to have any regrets.
Traci: Go back to the Bible. “…a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home…” If you can’t do both, then remember this…Mother’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, so if he decides to spend it with his mother, then blame Hallmark! I agree with JoAnne – spend it with the kids and enjoy them and enjoy yourself!!
Marc: You!
Donna: The other side, “Honor your father and mother..” I shared MD with my husband’s mom and now that she is gone, I am so glad I did!
To make matters more complicated —
or more beautiful?
— there are three other mothers to whom I am indebted: Belinda, Nari and Oksana. They are my children’s birthmoms.
They made a huge
sacrifice
to allow my husband and me the privilege of parenting our three amazing children.
Thank you, Belinda, for your deep commitment of a family with a mom and a dad. You are compassionate.
Thank you, Nari, for seeking refuge in Russia while your home country faced civil war. You are brave.
Thank you, Oksana, for not choosing the easy way out in a country where abortion is the #1 form of birth control. You are wise.
Do you know what my best Mother’s Day would be? Blessing these three lovely women with hugs and happy tears and a chance for me to say, “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”
A special announcement: Please join me tomorrow as I interview an expert on prodigal adult children at 1 p.m. CT on my radio show “Sisterhood of Beautiful Warriors.” Click to listen or to access the archived show. Many thanks, friends.
Francine Rivers hooked me on the first page of her novel Her Mother’s Hope, all about the intricate relationships of mothers and daughters. It goes to the heart of beauty and strength, adversity and love.
A quick description: Marty, a spunky and intelligent though homely girl, leaves her home in a small Swiss town in the early 1900s, where her father is abusive and her mother coddles her younger sister. She learns to make a way in the world, holding tight to her dream to open an inn, and eventually moves to Canada, where she meets a handsome man who sees
her true beauty.
Marta’s eldest daughter, Hildie, is her mother’s opposite. While Marta is forceful, Hildie shows compassion.
This novel prompted me to think about how my own mom influenced me and how I treat my daughters. Our pasts affect our present,
for better or worse.
Her Mother’s Hope is more than an excellent read. It makes you think about relationships that matter.
Francine,Can you tell us something about your Christian testimony?
I was reared in a Christian home. My parents were active in church, my father an elder, my mother a deaconess. I attended Christian summer camps, youth group and said grace at every meal. I thought being born into a Christian family and raised in the faith made me a Christian. It didn’t.
Each person makes their own choice, and it took me years to surrender to Jesus – not until after I’d gone through college, married, had children and started a writing career. Rick and I went to church, but came away dissatisfied and knowing there must be something more. We both had personal issues that brought us close to divorce several times. We wanted our own way and to have control over our own lives. Having control is an illusion.
Our marriage was on the verge of collapse when Rick started his own business. We moved to northern California to be closer to family. We made many outer changes, but no change of the heart. As we moved into our rental house, a little boy came over to help and said, “Have I got a church for you!”
We weren’t ready to listen. The lady on the other side of our fence also invited us to the same church. Out of desperation, I went a few weeks later. It was my first experience with “expository teaching.” The pastor taught straight out of the Bible, explaining the historical context, what the scriptures were saying, and what they had to do with me in the present. I drank it in! I took my three children to church. They loved it. Rick resisted (after having a somewhat disheartening experience with a denominational church in Southern California).
I asked the pastor if he would be willing to teach a home Bible study. He agreed — if Rick agreed, which he did. Studying the Bible changed our lives. Our hearts and minds opened to Christ. We both accepted Jesus as Savior and LORD and were baptized in May 1986. Since then, God has been changing our lives from the inside out. The Lord also healed our marriage. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this year.
Tell us about your current work.
I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations. This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith – but became so long it needed to be divided. Her Mother’s Hope was released on March 16, 2010. Her Daughter’s Dream will follow in September. There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog. You may find out more about my new book and more by visiting my web site at www.FrancineRivers.com.
Here’s the book trailer.
PLEASE NOTE: A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
Today I posted this on my Facebook: Got a burning quesion. Need help. Should my hubby spend Mother’s Day with me and the kids? Or with his mother? Whadya think? Soon comments rolled in. Here’s a smattering:
Francine Rivers hooked me on the first page of her novel Her Mother’s Hope, all about the intricate relationships of mothers and daughters. It goes to the heart of beauty and strength, adversity and love.
PLEASE NOTE: A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
