Steven Skelley is a gifted author, journalist, Contemporary Christian Music singer/songwriter, tennis instructor, and last, but not least, ordained minister who resides down in Florida. Among the songs he has written is one titled Thank You, God. It is a wonderful piece about a grown man who eventually comes to realize the role played by his own mother during his upbringing.
As she stood at the top of the stairs, she'd say "honey time to get up"
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I'd say "okay Mom"
As I went on with my six year old life, I never even realized
How much work, how much time had been spent on me
Now I see
Thank You God
As she stood at the open back door, she'd say honey have a great day
Turning to see her smile, I'd say "okay Mom"
As I went on with my teenage life, I never even realized
How much work, how much time had been spent on me
Now I see
Thank You God
As a grown man now with a child of my own,
I stop when I hear the words "okay Mom"
As she says this to my wife, I finally come to realize
How much work, how much time must be spent on these
Now I see
Thank You God
For making Moms*
As I recount these lyrics, I cannot help but be reminded of the following affirmation from John Killinger’s book, Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise. Most of us naturally begin to give our attention to Mother’s Day at this time of year. As we do, these words on the worth and value of motherhood taken from Dr. Killinger’s book of prayers serves as appropriate food for thought.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the loving God, who was born of the promise to a virgin named Mary.
I believe in the love Mary gave her son, that caused her to follow Him in his ministry and stand by His cross as he died.
I believe in the love of all mothers, and its importance in the lives of the children they bear. It is stronger than steel, softer than down, and more resilient than a green sapling on the hillside. It closes wounds, melts disappointments, and enables the weakest child to stand tall and straight in the fields of adversity.
I believe that this love, even at its best, is only a shadow of the love of God, a dark reflection of all that we can expect of Him, both in this life and the next.
And I believe that one of the most beautiful sights in the world is a mother who lets this greater love flow through her to her child, blessing the world with the tenderness of her touch and the tears of her joy.**
Yes, indeed, thank God for moms!
SOURCES:
*Steven Skelley’s material is available online from his personal web site, which is located at http://www.stevenskelley.20megsfree.com/index.html. Here, you can find out more about this and other songs he has written, as well as information about availability for purchase and/or booking.
**Dr. John Killinger is currently a free-lance writer and lecturer. He is also a former Pastor who has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Samford University. A prolific author, he has written over fifty books on topics ranging from Christian history to world religions. He specializes in works on preaching, pastoral ministry, personal spirituality, and theology and contemporary culture. His books are available at local bookstores and online distributors worldwide.
In a review of this particular book, Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise: Prayers for Christian Worship (Abingdon Press, 2001), Dr. William H. Willimon, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University in North Carolina, has written: "John Killinger has been helping us to worship the true, living, and interesting God for a long time. John loves words, particularly words spoken to God by those who have heard God speak. This is a wonderful collection of prayers." I, for one, concur.
As she stood at the top of the stairs, she'd say "honey time to get up"
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I'd say "okay Mom"
As I went on with my six year old life, I never even realized
How much work, how much time had been spent on me
Now I see
Thank You God
As she stood at the open back door, she'd say honey have a great day
Turning to see her smile, I'd say "okay Mom"
As I went on with my teenage life, I never even realized
How much work, how much time had been spent on me
Now I see
Thank You God
As a grown man now with a child of my own,
I stop when I hear the words "okay Mom"
As she says this to my wife, I finally come to realize
How much work, how much time must be spent on these
Now I see
Thank You God
For making Moms*
As I recount these lyrics, I cannot help but be reminded of the following affirmation from John Killinger’s book, Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise. Most of us naturally begin to give our attention to Mother’s Day at this time of year. As we do, these words on the worth and value of motherhood taken from Dr. Killinger’s book of prayers serves as appropriate food for thought.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the loving God, who was born of the promise to a virgin named Mary.
I believe in the love Mary gave her son, that caused her to follow Him in his ministry and stand by His cross as he died.
I believe in the love of all mothers, and its importance in the lives of the children they bear. It is stronger than steel, softer than down, and more resilient than a green sapling on the hillside. It closes wounds, melts disappointments, and enables the weakest child to stand tall and straight in the fields of adversity.
I believe that this love, even at its best, is only a shadow of the love of God, a dark reflection of all that we can expect of Him, both in this life and the next.
And I believe that one of the most beautiful sights in the world is a mother who lets this greater love flow through her to her child, blessing the world with the tenderness of her touch and the tears of her joy.**
Yes, indeed, thank God for moms!
SOURCES:
*Steven Skelley’s material is available online from his personal web site, which is located at http://www.stevenskelley.20megsfree.com/index.html. Here, you can find out more about this and other songs he has written, as well as information about availability for purchase and/or booking.
**Dr. John Killinger is currently a free-lance writer and lecturer. He is also a former Pastor who has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Samford University. A prolific author, he has written over fifty books on topics ranging from Christian history to world religions. He specializes in works on preaching, pastoral ministry, personal spirituality, and theology and contemporary culture. His books are available at local bookstores and online distributors worldwide.
In a review of this particular book, Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise: Prayers for Christian Worship (Abingdon Press, 2001), Dr. William H. Willimon, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University in North Carolina, has written: "John Killinger has been helping us to worship the true, living, and interesting God for a long time. John loves words, particularly words spoken to God by those who have heard God speak. This is a wonderful collection of prayers." I, for one, concur.