My Dear Mother

I have been thinking about my recent visit with my mother in Texas. She has changed since I was with her for her 90^th birthday last spring. It is a very noticeable change and not for the better. Many mini strokes over the years had already robbed her of the ability to make new memories but she always knew who I was and was with the moment.

This past year she broke her hip and spent time in the hospital and has been in decline ever since. She looks very frail and is no longer in the moment or knows who I am. We just go with the flow of her conversation of what ever moment she is in and enjoy being with her. I am so thankful for the care my sister Jeannie gives her.

My mother was always a rock of faith and love for me and my siblings. Because of her I am the man I am today able to live and be at peace with God. I know that her great faith is still with her and even though she is nearing the last of her days with us that she will be in the arms of God forever. I am at peace with that and honor her life as a woman of Proverbs 31.

I love you mom.

Epiphany

Today Sunday January 6th is EPIPHANY! This is the day in the Western Church when we celebrate the arrival of the "Wise Men" and end the Christmas season.

Today is also Christmas in the Eastern Church, actually it was at one time Christmas in the whole church but Rome changed it to December 25th to coincide with the Winter solstice celebrations in Rome. They could not get rid of the pagan celebration so they changed the meaning of the day and changed January 6th to Epiphany and the coming of the wise men to see Jesus.

So Happy Epiphany to my western friends and Merry Christmas to my eastern friends.