When I was little, I remember running down the stairs and seeing my mom sitting alone on the couch, reading her Bible. She kept her Bible in a soft blue case with a notebook and pen tucked in it. No matter how busy she was or where we were, her Bible was always somewhere close by.

Today of all days, we appreciate our mothers. But even though I am so very grateful for my mom, I am much more grateful for God. I know that it was God who made my mother into who she is today.

Without Him on her side, she could not have been so selfless, patient, and kind. Without Him, she could not have relentlessly and completely loved each of us girls and my daddy.

My mom is strong because my God is strong. She is kind because He taught her how to be. She loves because He is love.

I do not praise my mom for who she is. But I praise God for who He has allowed my mom to become. And I thank Him because she is still here with me, with us.

A year ago, I sat in the hospital and watched as cancer wrecked my mom’s body. For months, chemo left her exhausted and nauseated. She could no longer keep up with the many Bible studies and women’s groups that she had faithfully served in for years.

But through it all, she kept her Bible by her side. Her faith did not waver. My whole life, I’ve watched her put God first. And as soon as she became sick, hundreds of people in both Peru and the States began to pray for her and my family. For months, I would receive regular texts from those who were praying and caring for us.

No matter what happened, I knew that my family was not alone. We were loved, so tremendously loved. And at the end of last year, when God healed my mom, I knew how blessed we were to have more time with her.

In January, my parents moved to Pensacola. For the past few months, they’ve been only a ten-minute drive away from my college campus. God placed them close to us, and as an unexpected result from the virus, my sisters and I had even more time and flexibility to be with them.

But then my mom became sick again.

I remember the first time it happened. I’d been meeting up with her to go on walks, and then, one day she couldn’t anymore. She started to feel tired and sore, and the pain came back. For weeks, we waited as she made appointments and was tested.

A few weeks ago, her doctor said she had colon cancer. Again.

I fell apart. We all did. Alessia came over, and I was just curled in a blanket, crying. I couldn’t stop crying. Fear rushed back in. But this time, I wasn’t across the world in India or walking across the stage in my graduation while my mom watched from her hospital bed in Peru.

This time, I could drive to my mom and see her, hug her, and just be with her. That has been one of the most unexpected and amazing blessings God could have given us.

But after more tests, the doctor reversed his statement. He said that she didn’t have colon cancer. Something was still wrong, but they weren’t sure what.

Then this past week, my mom found out that she probably does have cancer.

We still don’t know for sure what it is or how this will affect her. The doctors are still running more tests, but they have found several possible tumors in her lung, liver, and lower abdomen.

A year ago, God spared my mom’s life. I am so grateful that I could spend all of Mother’s Day by her side today. We don’t know what will happen next, but there is something that I do know. Something that my mom has taught me since I was a little girl.

God is in control. He is good. And He loves us so much more than we could ever know or comprehend.

For the past few years, I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to be a mom. I knew how selfish, sinful, and lazy I was. All I saw were my weaknesses.

But this year, God has shown me that it doesn’t matter how weak I am. What matters is how strong He is. And, friend, He is STRONG.

This Spring, one of my closest friends Tamara Greene had a beautiful baby girl.[image error] And God used this tiny sweet baby to remind me that being a mother is a gift and a blessing. God uses the challenges of motherhood to teach and grow His daughters.

My mom is an incredible mother because every morning, she would get up while the rest of us slept, and she would spend time with God. She rooted herself in His word,  and she brought (and still brings) all of her burdens and troubles before Him in prayer.

No matter how hard life was (or how crazy her four little girls could be), my mom kept her eyes on Jesus.

Today, we face an uncertain future. But we have God on our side, and my mother has taught us to keep our eyes on Jesus. No matter what happens, He will be our strength.