Toggles Connection Newsletter
Trophies of His Grace

The Gift of Love

—by Teresa
(From the Toggles Connection Newsletter)

Every year when Mother’s day comes along, I can’t help but think about my own mother. She wasn’t much as far as mothers go; she was abusive, and never made an effort to protect me or provide even the basic care for me.

I grew up hating her, and knowing when I left home I would never lay eyes on her again. 

After I got married and had children of my own, I learned how mothers are supposed to be from my mother-in-law. She gave me the love and encouragement I had craved from my own mother.

Over the years my mother-in-law has introduced me to Jesus, not only Who He is, but also about the character of Christ. Her patience and love for me have taught me firsthand how to put Christ’s love into action.

My only real stumbling block was the one about forgiveness. How in the world did anyone really expect me to be able to forgive the abuse I suffered at my parent’s hands?

Through the years I have learned that for me, forgiveness comes in steps. The first one being just able to say to the Lord, “I forgive, not because I want to, but only because of what You have done for me.”

It was only a beginning, but the truth of that statement became very real to me this past summer as I passed a ‘bag lady’ and realized she was my mother. Because of her illness (paranoid schizophrenia), she didn’t know who I was even after I identified myself. She walked away and went across the street and lay down on a park bench to sleep.

I sat down and watched her for hours, not quite sure what to do. For the first time in my life, I saw her though Jesus’ eyes, with the light of His compassion and His forgiveness.

When I stood up, I’m sure I felt shackles fall away from my soul as I finally began to understand the gift of forgiveness.I