A woman had come to Henri Nouwen complaining about her husband. She was extremely discontent and frustrated. She saw no solution to the problem with her marriage.

Henry Nouwen interrupted her with this:
“All that is a distraction. I don’t mean to denigrate or even dispute your complaints, but those things you speak of are beside the point. The only thing that really matters is your relationship with Jesus…

But he didn’t leave her hanging. He had a solution…
”Just take 5 minutes every day for 2 weeks to sit quietly and ask to be with Jesus. Ask for His presence. Then come back and tell me what’s important.”

My Mother was that kind of woman.
She had a deep and fruitful relationship with Jesus. In 1961, her words were recorded in a book compiled by her Sunday School class:

She began her article with the Bible verse:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

She had cancer…
“A marble statue of Christ, fifteen feet tall, with this passage carved in the base, stands in the rotunda of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. But the Christ-like atmosphere does not end there. One does not search long to find Christ in the Doctors and Nurses also, as they strive day and night to heal the sick.

I know, because I have been a patient there, and was fortunate enough to have great and humble Doctors who recognize God as the greatest of all physicians. I have had my Doctor suggest that we pray and wait for guidance. He gave my husband and me a wonderful theses which he had written about the Holy Spirit being with us and within us, and a prayer book. I know that I am fortunate to have such a channel to God.

After my Doctors, my family and friends and my Pastor prayed, we had a wonderful experience of seeing a tumor shrink from the size of a lemon until it was no larger than a pea. When it was later removed and a biopsy done, it proved that God has again demonstrated his love and power to heal.

Here, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, I found that when we reached up to God in prayers, He had lovingly reached down to us.” — Hannah Lurty (my mother) ♥

My mother knew…
the only thing that really matters is our relationship with Jesus. She died when I was 12 years old. She left me a rich heritage.

Sadly, it took me several years to figure out her secret: Only one thing really matters–my relationship with Jesus! So, how is your faith journey shaping up? (Click on the red button below. I look forward to connecting with you.)

Until next time,
God bless you bunches!
Awaiting His shout,


The MomCourager™

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