Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and what a beautiful sunny day we had for Mother’s Day. We enjoyed time at the lake with Ann’s family and had delicious steaks. EmojiToday I just finished making a raspberry/blueberry dessert, and a veggie stir fry and am going to my exercise class.    
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   We hear it said that we are loved by God from birth to death and although that is true, He loved us even before we were born. I read today from Psalm 22:9-10 where David says, “Indeed, you are the One who brought me out of the womb, the One who made me feel safe at my mother’s breasts. I was placed in your care from birth, from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” God loved us when we were conceived, in our mother’s womb, even before we were birthed and it will not end at our death but goes on for all eternity. So awesome!
  Just before Mother’s Day I asked the question of many of you of what you are especially grateful for in your own mother. I got varied responses like her kindness, her generosity, patience, endurance, humor, faithfulness to the Lord, humility to admit her mistakes, wisdom, and especially her sacrificial love. For so many, it was her caring love that stood out in putting aside her own wants and needs to do what was best for us. Only one  said her mom’s hard work, although I would assume most mothers worked tirelessly just meeting the needs of us as children. Mothers give us our first glimpse of what God’s sacrificial love is like.
  By the door on Mother’s Day, along with others in our apartment complex, was a bag with chocolate kisses and a note that said, “God made woman so that we would always have unconditional LOVE, shoulders to lean on, hands to hold and lots of HUGS and KISSES that are HEALING. Thank you for ALL the lives that you have ‘touched’!”
  Some moms did not have a very good start in life themselves but overcame the odds because of God’s love for them. One wrote that her mom had a terrible childhood and was abused but persevered and loved, making a home with her hubby and raising 6 children with love. She gave what she never had as a child because of God’s love for her.
   No matter what kind of a start each of us had, no matter what we are experiencing now in life, we have the greatest sacrificial love offered to us in Jesus. He gave everything for us, and he wants to pour His unconditional love into the depths of our hearts. Let us be open to receive and love Him in return.
Challenge for today: Open wide your heart to His love in new ways and share His love wherever you go!
Blessings on your week and prayers and  love, Judy