For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. - Psalm 30:5, KJV

When my dear, disabled-and-diseased-but-courageous, multi-talented mother passed (4 weeks ago today!) at the age of 82, I found myself still bragging on her. That has helped with the healing process of my soul.

About a week or so ago, negative thoughts hit me, and I just deliberately started thanking the LORD for many good things about my mother. 

(We have to be deliberate in fighting wrong thoughts with positive words. Overcoming negativity with positivity is not the default for us humans. It must be learned, and practiced, every day--sometimes every hour! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our (HIS!) testimony!)

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21, KJV

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. - Revelation 12:11, KJV

I looked up to Heaven and laughed, and said, "You can't stop me, Dear Mama!"

I’d spoken those same words decades earlier, but in rebellion (which is never good, and took me down many wrong paths that it’s taken the LORD years to help me recover and be restored from, but He has done it, and I am so thankful and excited about where He’s taking me next!). 

This time, however, it was a love thing. It was one of the few things I was able to do during those last few months of her life that truly pleased her, when my heroic husband and I (at the direction of the LORD, which was quite a miraculous thing to me, but He is able, and He gave me such peace and joy when I understood His will about it, that it could only be a miracle!) moved in to the house she and Dad had built over 50 years earlier, to keep her from having to go to a nursing home. 

I'd brag on her to the nurses, helpers, other Hospice personnel, and the rare other visitor she might have, and I'd laugh and go, "You can't stop me, Mama!" 

She'd flash a sincere smile, and I could hear the pleasure and almost wonder in her voice, and echo, "I can't stop her!"

In spite of her many accomplishments, amazing generosity, and multi-faceted creativity, she suffered not only many physical ailments, but also had a big problem with condemnation and lack of worth. Being unchurched for over 45 years and widowed for over 6, during which time she almost died several times, she had a real problem believing God loved her. It was really hard for her to accept compliments. 

However, our good LORD gives grace! While she appreciated our help, and would tell us that often, she didn't really receive what we said, whether it was compliments or the Word of God, or whatever, or at least very minimally if at all.

So, when I started bragging on her while taking her to appointments (even before she had to go into the hospital that last time, which is when I moved in, with my husband following a month later), I know it was a phrase from the LORD: "You can't stop me, Mama!"

I give Him all the glory, for that, and for His grace all over that very challenging yet rewarding, unique time. While the healing between us emotionally (that I'd felt was lacking all my life) never really happened, it was still something meaningful. She knew that we moved in, not to "get the house" or other things, like people have asked us, but because we loved her. We sacrificed quite a bit because we loved her. 

Of course, we have been blessed in the process--most of all, knowing that we obeyed the LORD, Who is Himself the Blesser, and the Master Conductor Who orchestrates our paths (when we let Him!). He always and forever leads us in right ways, and His plans for us are good and only good. 

Hallelujah!

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. - Job 36:11, KJV

He was also faithful to answer our prayers of years that, when it was time, she would have peace with Him and just drift off into a sweet sleep, into the arms of Heaven. Hallelujah!

So, once again, I want to brag on my dear mother, whom, I know, would be delighted to know (in her purely spiritual state, especially) that I admire her for many reasons. She was a strong overcomer, and constantly thinking of others, even in her many pains and struggles. She modeled the love and compassion and generosity of God in multiple ways, and taught me to do so, while also being thankful.

There's more I could say, but let me end with this: "Dear Mama, I'll continue to brag on you--and you can't stop me!"

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. - Romans 14:19, KJV

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.