This Mother’s Day, my mom would have been 91. She left this life in exchange for her eternal home in heaven when she was 80. How do I know her home is in heaven? By what she believed.

She BELIEVED in the truth of God’s Word. She believed that God does not change and that His Word stands true forever (Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:8).

She BELIEVED that if she called on the name of the Lord, she would be saved. So she did. She believed that if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. So she did.

She BELIEVED that God prepared in advance good works for her to do, but those works were not done to merit her entrance into heaven. She believed that she was simply saved by God’s grace through faith in His Son, Jesus (Romans 10:13, 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6)

She BELIEVED she could be an overcomer in rough times because her all-powerful God lived inside of her. And because of that truth, she would not be shaken (1 John 4:4, Psalm 62:6).

She BELIEVED God’s Word had answers for all of life’s questions and difficulties, so she studied it, knew it, relied on it, and lived it (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 4:12).

She BELIEVED she needed to raise her children to know the truth of God’s Word. She believed if we strayed from God, we would come back to Him. We strayed. We came back (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

She BELIEVED she was a beloved daughter of God. Because of this identity, she believed she was clothed in strength and dignity and could laugh without fear of the future. She believed God was in control, and He loved her and cared for her even when things didn’t go as she planned (Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 31:25, 1 Peter 5:7).

Her life and faith testified to God’s love, faithfulness, and the truth of His Word. For God so loved the world (my mom, me, you, our children, our family, our friends) that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him 
(John 3:16-17). This is how I know her home is in heaven. 

I BELIEVE.

My mom left a LEGACY OF BELIEF in Jesus and all his promises. Because of her legacy and God’s grace, I mother with eternity in mind. If God desires for us to glorify Him in all of life, how should that look in motherhood? And what will I do when I fail and let my children down or when circumstances don’t play out how I think they should?  I failed many times. Things didn’t always go as desired. And the enemy of my soul continued his lies.

“You messed up again. You are not a good mother. Do you really think you are worthy enough to teach your children about God?” “No. BUT JESUS IS. He is my righteousness, so I can speak His truth over them. That’s my job.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

During Covid, everything was different––including Mother’s Day. With the world in an uproar and our own family dynamics changing (two in college and a third close to flying the coup), I decided Mother’s Day was the perfect chance to preach¾possibly my last sermon to my kids.

It was more building up of my kids in the kingdom of God than preaching. But I’m confident they’d say I was preaching. What I had in mind that day was continuing a LEGACY OF BELIEF that would trickle down in our family line for generations to come.

I don’t remember the gifts I received from my kids that Mother’s Day, but I remember what I gave. It seems natural this is my memory because I believe it’s intuitive for a mother to enjoy the blessing of giving over the blessing of receiving. God wired us this way because there is so much giving without receiving in motherhood.

I’d rather be outdoors than indoors any day, especially for a family celebration. Encased by evergreen and magnolia trees, it was a beautiful morning for brunch outside on the porch.

That Mother’s Day, I wanted to be the gift giver, so I took advantage of my day. After brunch, I handed each of my kids and my husband a present that I felt represented our family memories, our mid-pandemic circumstances, and our future.

They unwrapped their gifts simultaneously––matching t-shirts featuring a ragtag family of dogs. Beneath the image were the words “We’re All in This Together.”

More than anything, I long for the statement on the t-shirt to represent my family’s future home in heaven. Although conversations about God and His Word were plentiful throughout their childhood at home, church, and school, I felt an urgency to build them up in their identities in Christ before they became complete free-lancing adults.

A matted white frame sits in my prayer closet next to the chair where I pray. It holds pictures of them when they were toddlers. That Mother’s Day, I read the three Scriptures I regularly prayed over them from their birth which I had written on the mat.

I pray that Braedon, Bryce, and Madison, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all understanding—that Braedon, Bryce, and Madison may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19).

Count Braedon, Bryce, and Madison as your people, and be their God. Give them a singleness of heart and action so they will always fear you for their own good and the good of their children. Make an everlasting covenant with Braedon, Bryce, and Madison. Never stop doing good to them and inspire them to fear you so they will never turn away from you (Jeremiah 32:39-40).

All your sons (and daughter) will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace (Isaiah 54:13).

I reminded them of these truths and the hope of the gospel. It helps us live fully for God and guides us to flourish in our relationships here.

I pray often that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

I pray that your relationships will flourish as you understand the depths of truth in real love and forgiveness. And above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins (Peter 4:8).

God gave us each other in this family, and later in your own families, to bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).

I shared how I saw God shape them all these years. I wanted to spur them on in their faith before being launched into an unbelieving world. I wanted to leave a LEGACY OF BELIEF.

Braedon, you are strong, a leader, and a person of influence. You are a relationship builder and an influencer. You are a problem solver. The world needs you, and your relationships need this quality. You are a gifted musician. You make beautiful music with your voice and piano. Braedon, you are grateful and content. My hope is that you will thrive as you walk in humility and become even more teachable. That is where wisdom is found.

Bryce, you are a creative, and you’ll find your place of influence there. You have a massive heart for people to know God, and you desire to be a part of His Kingdom work, even if it means doing hard things. You honor others with your compassion. The world needs more people who genuinely care. Perhaps what you think might be weak could be your greatest strength. Bryce, my hope is that you will thrive as you uncover your giftedness. When you find the right rocks to look under, you will have the courage to move the stones, or even boulders, to find the treasure underneath.

Madison, you are optimistic. You find the bright side even in the dark. You have a strong spirit of generosity, and the biggest heart to make others feel valued. You take your responsibilities seriously and accomplish your goals to completion. You do all this with excellence. You have a strong sense of fairness and justice. You are brave. My hope is that you will run toward truth in challenging times because you desire to soak in the wisdom of God. And you’ll thrive through humility and endure in relationships even when difficult.

Maybe your own mother didn’t leave a legacy of belief in Jesus. Or possibly you came to Christ later in your adulthood. God can and will lead you today in your mothering or grand mothering.  YOU can lead your family in a LEGACY OF BELIEF.

Even if you have a prodigal, the prayers of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16). We can count on the promises of God for our children as we continue to pray for them at every stage and age (Proverbs 22:6).

Even though I’ve been desperately discouraged at times, because of God’s faithfulness, I’ll continue to wait on Him for my unanswered prayers. He has answered so many already. This is how I know God’s promises are true.

I BELIEVE.

And like my mother, I will leave a LEGACY OF BELIEF.