Why You're Special

Blog: Before God & My Mother

My mother goes in for back surgery this week (prayers welcome!). I spent a chunk of this past weekend trying to put together a care package for her . . . something that would bring her warmth and a little entertainment during the recovery process. While putting it together, I found myself looking to her for inspiration. My mother always had the best cure for what was ailing me.

When my cousin and I grew bored on a family vacation, she guided us to a moss-covered corner just outside our cabin and got us started on constructing an elf village—a project that kept us occupied for the rest of the trip. When I forced myself to hole up in the home office to get work done on a final project for school during my Thanksgiving vacation, she snuck in with a cup of my favorite tea. And when my college boyfriend and I broke up, she set to work right away at determining which night of the week she could afford to stay up late so she could listen to me analyze my past relationship after a tear-stained viewing of The Way We Were.

The woman is magic. She always knows exactly what I need.

I think I can get pretty close to the mark with her, but there's no way I can compare. Were the tables turned, her care package would speak volumes of how well she knows me. The gifts would reflect not only my tastes, but also my emotional needs and my own personal style of healing. Somehow she knows when I need comfort and when I need affirmation, when I need to wallow and when I need to move on.

I suppose motherhood gives her this edge. To me, my mother has been a slowly unfolding mystery; as I enter adulthood, I understand her in ways I could not as a child. She, however, has been watching me all my life, my mysteries unfolding to her at the same rate at which they unfold to me. Now, as I am half a land mass away from her, there are details of my life that she cannot witness, little incidences that she has no knowledge of. But she still knows who I am.

And even still, she does not come close to matching God's knowledge of me. What a terrifying blessing to be known completely and entirely, inside and out, and to be loved anyway. Even more than my mother, God knows what I need. He knows how to show me peace, and how to communicate His love and His admonishments in ways that I will understand. In return, I offer my love clumsily and sometimes in misguided attempts to demonstrate how well I know Him. Like my mother, He smiles patiently, unfolding Himself gradually as I mature to greater understanding.

It's humbling, at times, to be a child, but there's no greater blessing than the incessant love of the One Who knows me best.

- Abigail Wurdeman

Joke: Pet Diaries

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY
Day number 180
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 181
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 182
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 pm - boohoo. bath. bummer.
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They
dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing
that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from
ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet
while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced
myself to vomit on their FAVORITE chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in
attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was .....Hmmm.
Not working according to plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen
for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical
called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation
is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was
placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise
and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer". More importantly
I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn
what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe
snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to
return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got
to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he
reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room
his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...