Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all my friends and relatives who are mothers, and especially to my own dear mother. She’s the best!

The email read, “She is childless.” I’d done some editing for this well known writer in Mennonite circles. This was how she described me to several hundred other writers. I didn’t mind, but it did make me wonder. Is this what defines me: no children?

I thought and thought and the more I thought, I realized it is true. I wouldn’t be writing this blog if the Lord hadn’t put me in an alone place and given me words. We never would have considered living in Queens if we’d have had children. With children, my life would be so different:

No days on the beach with my namesake Bee. I wouldn’t know Sundaymar’s laughter or call Kari my little sister. I would have never seen Ellen’s shoe collection or discussed an African woman’s love of pretty cloth. Jesse and Frank with their families would not have recently graced our home with their presence. And perhaps the biggest blessing of all came because of working at the farmer’s market and of the boss, Israel, and his wife, Sarah, who transformed from darkness to light. I would not have received a Mother’s Day bouquet from Greg, Shawn, and Jerry.

That paragraph could go on for a book length, telling of foods, of places, of the sea, young men, former missionaries, and many more blessings sent our way because God knows best.

Lastly, we would not have had the experience on the E Train that happened this morning when a Muslim woman, covered in black except for her eyes, called out, “Beautiful lady, come sit by your husband.” I moved to sit by Laurence. The woman stood by me, asking about my faith. I explained that I’m a Christian. “Have you heard of Mennonites?”

“Once, about five years ago a woman named Sonia tried to explain to me.”

Sonia. I know Sonia. The same Sonia who lives far from where we’re riding the train. God’s providence caused us to miss a train, so we could ride this train and visit with this sweet lady. God’s amazing providence kept me ‘childless’ so that I would be blessed with this amazing life.

You too are being led into beautiful places by God’s loving providence.

Berniece