“I hesitated when I was asked to share my story because I’ve always thought I had a boring testimony. I don’t have a dramatic story with sin that’s easy to spot. But I do have a story that celebrates what the Lord has done in my life, and that’s one worth telling.
“I had two loving parents who took us to church every week, where I learned stories about Jesus. I knew Jesus loved me and believed the stories, but I thought they were just historical things that happened.
“In high school, through Young Life and a student Bible study, I heard John 14:6, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
“I learned that believing in the stories is not the same as accepting Christ and getting to spend eternity with him. I could respond to the truth of Jesus by accepting and trusting him, believing in his death, burial, and resurrection. I didn’t yet know how to walk with him daily.
“When I went to college, I didn’t grow in my walk with Jesus, but I did learn some things. I learned comparison—who had what, and what I did not have. I learned discontentment—I thought there were winners and losers in life, and felt like I was always on the losing side.
“I also learned to worry. I worried about my mom, who was diagnosed with heart disease when I was in high school and who was sick the remainder of her life. And I worried about my grades, whether I had a date for the football game, and what to wear to that football game. I learned to let my negative thoughts spiral. I would take small, tiny thoughts and very easily spiral into darkness and stay there with fear and anxiety.
“In college, I also met Ronnie, who has now been my husband for 41 years. Six months into our marriage, my mom died. I was very young, and it was really hard. I wrestled with God about taking her so young.
“When we moved to Dallas, we joined a church where I really began to learn about God and value community with other believers. I learned that being a Christian is a daily and entire life commitment, not just a one-time decision. I learned to love Jesus for who he was and trust him as the Lord of my life. I relied on his love and grace to save and grow me.
“I think of my journey to trusting Christ like being on a tandem bike. For years, I was in front of the bike, telling Jesus in the back, ‘Come on! Here’s what we’re doing.’ And then, I finally realized I needed to let him be the driver. He steered me on a much curvier and bumpier ride than I might choose, but he’s provided incredible sights and lessons along the way.
“I continued to wrestle with some of the same struggles and sin, especially through motherhood, but I decided to trust him. As I specifically memorized Scripture that pertained to my troubles, it grew into a love and discipline that changed me from the inside out. He gave me a huge desire to raise my kids to know and love God, but he was instilling these disciplines in me first.
“I found good, just as God promises in Romans 8:28, after my mother passed. My dad lived in our backhouse for 14 years, getting to live life with my family and watch my children grow. Knowing God worked good from something terrible and hard was a blessing.
“Our three kids had the benefit of growing up at Watermark, and they all came to know the Lord at an early age. He pursued them like he pursued me, and he pursues you the same way, regardless of your story.
“So, I come to you today, hesitant and humble to say, there are no acceptable, respectable, or small sins. Sins like discontentment, pride, and comparison may have different consequences than others, but all sin falls short of God’s glory. Any sin will keep any person from the perfect relationship offered by God, but through Christ’s sacrifice, my sin (and your sin) has been paid for, and we can have eternal life in relationship with him. If you haven’t accepted him as Lord, you can trust in him today.
“Before Christ, I wrestled with comparison, discontent, swirling thoughts, and feeling like I wasn’t good enough. After knowing Jesus, I now believe he is enough. He loves me and provides just what I need.
“I know Mother’s Day isn’t happy for everyone. I remember when my mom passed away, and I wasn’t yet a mother myself—this day felt especially hard.
“If you’re grieving a loss, longing to be a mom, or walking through a hard relationship, you are not alone. If your kids are grown, you have regrets about the past, and feel like it’s too late, today is a new day. Here is my encouragement: no matter your life stage or age, whether you’re 24 or 80, God is working in your heart. You can make an impact on the next generation by loving them well and teaching them about Jesus. As long as we have breath, God is still writing our stories.”