I shudder when I think of the stupid things I’ve said to my mother. The Teenager Phase was no different than the Terrible Twos. (Only a “mother” should have the right to make that statement.)

Having served only as a substitute mother, I wish I had been given a second chance at being a real mom. It wasn’t until a later that I realized the reward of being someone’s “mama.”

When my sister, barely older than me, asked me to meet for lunch one day, I couldn’t possibly imagine what was so important that she would actually take time off from work to meet me at some out-of-the-way restaurant for a quiet meal where we would most likely be the only customers. As she poured out her heart to me with the unfortuate details of her never-get-over news, my face mask froze up. I stiffened like a wooden plank and almost suffocated from not being able to catch my breath. I had never seen my sister in this state of sorrow and hopelessness before, and as much as I wanted to say the perfect words to heal her tender heart, I was speechless. It was the worst day of my life. I couldn’t fix it. My sister was hurting, and I couldn’t stop the pain.

Something happened that day–that instant. My sister wipe away her tears, blew her nose about twenty times, and patted my hand as if to comfort me! With the kindest, sweetest, most loving expression in her beautiful green eyes, she assured me this was the best possible thing that could happen, and God was so very good and wise, and He should be because He was controlling everything, He loved us, and He would make all old things new. That’s when I understood what the words “restoration” and “redemption” meant. You might as well add “revelation” to the list because it seems I immediately had a “revelation.”

I couldn’t help but be influenced by my sister throughout my life. She was so wellbehaved when it was nearly impossible to be like that. You would practically have to be a saint to live the life my sister did. I have known people that would go in the opposite direction and let the bitter tares take them over until they were strangled, and you could hear them barely gasping (in a foggy utter), “I can’t breathe…”, and you had to rebuke the chanting from the troublemakers in the crowd. Some people believe in this kind of voodoo. I don’t like to watch horror shows, read evil books, or open any windows to anything bad.

I cannot imagine anything more wonderful than being a mother! These young girls who think they’re not ready to settle down and raise babies, cook meals, and carry out all the duties which go with being a wife (and a great one!) need your prayers. I’m not kidding! I don’t know how much time we have left here before the End Times hits, but that’s okay, because we have been told since Day 1 to be ready! Do you realize how long ago that was!?! I realize this crazy “Doom and Gloom” cycle we’re in right now is making everyone Coo-Coo, and I’m right there with them!

We only get one life here before Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on Earth, after the Horrible Tribulation featuring the infamous Antichrist who actually believes he can win this war with the Triune God, the Son of Almighty God who came all the way down from Heaven and took on the shape of man, like us. And that’s why we have Christ in us and HIS authority by HIS blood!! Imagine! Doesn’t that blow you away? When God took on the shape of us, man, HE died on the rugged CROSS shedding his BLOOD! He bled! Real blood so our sins were wiped away. We were flawless again! Think about it. What it would feel like to be without sin? You think about that.

So live your life to the fullest. Don’t give in to FEAR. That’s Satan. Negative. You don’t need that. Enjoy every moment. Feel joy. Love, and love deeply. Give, and give freely. Follow Him. In your spirit. In prayer. In The Word. God has won the war. The Bible tells us so. It’s a done-deal. Christ already did HIS part by shedding HIS blood on the cross. God made us in HIS image, and we have Christ in us–the Holy Spirit. I’m going to make my life worth something for my Lord. I want to give Him some glory, and I will figure it out along the way.