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Mother’s Friend
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).
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That Other Mother
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A GIft for mom: Forgiveness
Editors Letter Thank God for Mother’s Day although we ought to celebrate our mothers more often. Still this is a day when she is honored. And it shouldn’t be just mothers but also grandmothers because a lot of them are raising their grandchildren. My hat is off to you all today. And I want to give you a great big “Bless You.” We at Red Wine Magazine love you. We celebrate you and your office. Motherhood is an office. And for all the good and great mothers: Thank you for what you are doing! I know that some of our mothers are not here with us anymore. Maybe your mother has gone on to be with the Lord. And although she is gone and no longer with you, she has left her love and the things she taught you behind. She left her strength and an impartation that you will hopefully pass on to your children. Great relationships remain with us. While I am writing this I am vacationing in Panama City Beach, FL. Not because I had the presence of mind to do so or because I haven’t been on vacation for years now. No, I won’t take any credit for this awesome vacation because God was the One who told me to go to Panama City Beach and vacation. God is not a mother, even though the Bible calls Him the Many Breasted One (Psalm 81:10), but He can stand in the place of your mother and love you in those deep crevices that you have in your heart. God is such a profound and prolific Father. I know this is Mother’s Day but I feel like He has slipped into that place as well. He will be there for you. If your mother is not here, reach out to Him and ask Him to love you like she loved you. Ask Him to bring something to mind that reminds you of her so you can honor her. Please write us and tell us what you would like to see in the magazine. Our door is always open to you! God bless you!
Dr. Diana
December 2014 - January 2015//Special Issue
The Cold Letters CANCER C A N C E R - Those cold letters do not reign supreme. So many people are afraid of hearing the words “You have cancer”, that they won’t even go to the doctor. There are others who go to the doctor and are caught completely off guard when they receive a diagnosis of cancer. I originally wrote my book How I Beat Cancer because my secretary asked me to write a small pamphlet that she could give to people when she visited cancer clinics. And so I agreed. What started out as a small pamphlet containing words of encouragement and some “how-to” tips to survive cancer, turned into a 46 page book about my personal life and experience with cancer. I am sharing How I Beat Cancer with the world because I want mothers, fathers, grandmothers and even doctors to know that there is a cure for cancer. It’s just that science doesn’t hold the answer. The one who has the awesome cure is God. Scientists are not completely sure what causes cancer. They conduct vigorous research and have increased understanding about the behavior of cancer cells, but a cure is not yet here. I am not a physician and I don’t pretend to tell physicians or scientists what to do. What I do know is God. I know that God speaks the ultimate truth. And once you know that, you realize that you don’t have to know exactly how things go wrong in the body, because God will show you how to be healed, how to be cured of cancer. God cured me of cancer. And I am still so humbled by it. I have so much gratitude to God because a cousin of mine, who was my age, was diagnosed with colon cancer at the same time I was diagnosed. She died and I didn’t. It takes me places you could never understand when I think about how God chose me. How I Beat Cancer is my personal life story and testimony about my battle with cancer with God by my side. The book tells you how to fight cancer with God. I am not knocking chemotherapy or any other modern day treatments. It was not my choice because I believe chemotherapy kills the good with the bad. God was my choice and I am all the more better for it. So when you are undergoing the medical interventions you choose, take this book along and use the spiritual medication that you find within its pages. You will receive the kind of life-saving results you deserve.
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RED WINE MAY 2015 // MOTHER’S FRIEND
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RED WINE MAY 2015 // MOTHER’S FRIEND
Mother’s Friend
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).
I am not sure if the product Mother’s Friend is still being sold in stores, but when I was pregnant, my mother told me to buy it so I wouldn’t get stretch marks on my stomach. My mother came from the backwoods of Mississippi and this old time remedy had prevented her from getting any stretch marks, even after four kids! As you can imagine, I was inclined to believe what she said!
My mother taught me many things; how to cook and clean, and how to be a strong, independent woman. Most importantly, she taught me about Jesus Christ, saying that He was her Master and Healer and that He could be mine too. She told me how the Lord Jesus visited her when she was only 14 years old, by a tree in Piney Woods,
Mississippi. She didn’t take me to church, though she should have, but she recommended that I go. My life is restored and I have been completely blessed because of what she taught me about Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). When I was younger I didn’t want to hear what my mother was saying. As a result I traveled the wrong path many times, and was involved in things where I didn’t belong. However, when I was walking in darkness I would talk to God from my heart. No one knew it, but I was asking God for help.
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RED WINE MAY 2015 // MOTHER’S FRIEND
The Mother’s Friend that I want to talk about today doesn’t treat stretch marks, it treats your entire life. The Mother’s Friend I am talking about is God. As mothers, it is our job to point our children in the right direction. My mother did that when she pointed me to God. She wasn’t doing everything she should have according to God’s Word. She wasn’t going to church or tithing, both of which are very important to God, but she did point me to my creator. That is what you need to do as a mother; point your children toward our creator. As Mothers, we never know when our children will need something that we can’t provide. When our children are up against a wall and struggling without our knowledge, God will be there. God gave us the awesome gift of motherhood. In return, we need to give our children the gift of knowing God, their creator. Mothers are overseers. We are the ones that our children trust and depend upon. They listen to our words (even when we think they are not!) and they pay attention to what we say as well as what we do. Be diligent in seeking God and and let your children watch you as you do so. You may be wise and loving and give all of yourself to your children, but without God you cannot give your children the surety of success. God is the way to a successful, happy, joyful life. I am here today because my mother pointed me to her Friend and Physician, God the Father. Now I point my three children to God. They know Him; they talk to Him and pray to Him. I facilitated that knowledge through conversations and taking them to church. Your children may be too old for you to start taking them to church now, but you can still talk to them about it. You can suggest that they to go to church and you can send them a Bible. Encourage them to invite God into their lives and to love him. God will bless you for it. By
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teaching your children about Jesus, you have given them someone to talk to and rely on when you are not around. In your absence, they will have someone who can provide solutions to life’s greatest problems. He’s the real Mother’s Friend. Be blessed! Dr. Diana
AS MOTHERS,
we never know when our children will need something that we can’t provide.
When our children are up against a wall and struggling without our knowledge, GOD will be there. GOD gave us the awesome gift of
MOTHERHOOD.
In return, we need to give our children
RED WINE MAY 2015 // THAT OTHER MOTHER
When
you saw the title of this article did your eyes open wide as you gasped and thought, “She cannot be writing about what I think she is writing about!”? If you did, that’s the same reaction I received from my friends and staff members when I told them I was going to write about “that other mother”. I know this is a precious
fashionable. Some use it in anger because they don’t know how to properly express themselves. Through advancement and technology, people have found ways to say this word without actually saying it. When asked if they are with their mother, I have heard people respond, with plenty of attitude, “No I am with that other mother.” People laugh when they use the word.
That
OTHER holiday coming up. I know it may seem rude to speak of the two in the same breath. However, with Mother’s Day just around the corner, you can imagine the timeliness in discussing this saying. We need to talk about the irreparable damage and hurt that this obscenity has created, the fights that have ensued from the use of this two-part word. I refuse to speak the word because it has no place in my life. However, there are a lot of other people who use it because they think it’s cute or
Mother
Nevertheless, it is an obscenity. You can try to make it sound funny, but it will always have a nasty, vile meaning. In other words, you can’t put lipstick on a pig. I have not heard anyone expose this obscenity for what it really is. You need to clearly understand what you are saying when you direct this toward someone: you are saying something against their mother. Do not buy the silly excuses that “It doesn’t really mean anything” or “Everyone says it.” Neither is true. It’s time for you to grow up and
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RED WINE MAY 2015 // THAT OTHER MOTHER
Know that when you use the term mother, it should be in the BEST LIGHT POSSIBLE. You cannot buy motherhood and you cannot replace your mother.
SHE IS A GEM. Respect yourself and others.
learn how to get your point across without using profanity. I feel very strongly that no one should ever speak ill of mothers and motherhood. Even criminals seem to know that they need to show respect and curb foul language when they are in the company of women - especially someone’s mother. I have seen drug dealers walk into people’s homes and change their behavior on the spotacting respectfully toward the mothers in the room.
try to hurt other people! Just walk away. God knows what you are thinking and what you are saying. So whether you speak the word in your head or say it out loud, God has heard it. The angels record it (Matthew 12:36). Know that when you use the term mother, it should be in the best light possible. You cannot buy motherhood and you cannot replace your mother. She is a gem. Respect yourself and others. The other mother has to go.
I’m calling on prayer warriors to start praying for people who use this term. There’s nothing cute about it. If you hear someone saying it, call their attention to the magnitude of what they are saying. They are speaking ill of someone’s mother and God is hearing it. That term should never come out of your lips, especially if you are a Christian. It should be thrown in the fire for the degradation it represents. Get that word, and all the derivatives of it, out of your life now. It dishonors people, and when you speak it, that dishonor poisons you.
You are too blessed to be stressed. You are too important to God and to me. If you need help we can pray about it. Red Wine is here to serve you and your passion for God. We are here to teach you about things that can steal your life away and prevent you from living a glorious life with God.
I imagine that sometimes people use this word because they want to hurt someone. The answer to that is easy- don’t
God bless and lots of love to you. Dr. Diana
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Mother’s Day honors the extraordinary uniqueness of motherhood. We wouldn’t be here without mothers. So this Mother’s Day honor and respect your mother, and let the other mother go the way of the trash.
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RED WINE MAY 2015 // A GIFT FOR MOM
Gift
There is a well-known, very important day coming up on May 10; Mother’s Day! There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t understand the concept of “mother” because we all have one. Young or old, alive or passed on, loving or hard to the core, we all have a mother because to be alive is to be born from a woman. The fact that they gave us life should be enough to make each and every one of us appreciate our mothers. Unfortunately, that is not the case. There are many people who don’t understand the importance, and the power, of having a relationship with their mother. They take their mothers for granted; they live their lives not realizing that the greatest relationship and source of support they will ever have is their mother. You should focus on your Mother every day, praying for her and thanking God for her. Honoring your mother is not only a good thing, it’s a Godly thing. God commanded us to “honor our mother and father that our days may be long upon the earth,” (Exodus 20:12). That is the promise God gave us, and it will come true if we honor our parents. Like every other holiday, Mother’s Day has become very commercial. Stores have signs with hearts and ribbons and catchy phrases enticing you to buy a gift for your mother. That’s ok. Gift giving is nice, and it’s even better when honor and love are attached to it. Like ice cream and cake, gifts and love go together. This year let your 8 I Red Wine
for Mom:
FORGI
RED WINE MAY 2015 // A GIFT FOR MOM mother feel that your gift is truly from your heart. Stop what you are doing on Mother’s Day and focus solely on your Mom. Visit your mother, take her out to brunch or dinner and give her gifts. These are all great things to do for her. However, the most important gift you can give your mother on Mother’s Day is the gift of forgiveness. Here is why.
I realize that some of you may not have a good relationship with your mother. In fact, some of you may have no maternal relationship at all. You may be estranged, or just flat out angry with her. It may be that she is not around when you need her. Perhaps your mother’s words sting and make you feel disowned. You may disapprove of her lifestyle or be embarrassed by her. Regardless of how you feel, I want to suggest one Mother’s Day gift to you today. It is a gift that won’t cost you money, but it will cost you a piece of your heart. It’s the gift of forgiveness. You may think that forgiving your mother is a ridiculous gift. It isn’t. Stop a minute and consider if there is anything between the two of you that is preventing a full and happy mother/child relationship. Whether she is alive or has passed away, forgiveness is a gift for both of you. It will bless you, your mother, and God! He will be very happy that you have decided to forgive your mother.
GIVENESS
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“honor our mother and father that our days may be long upon the earth,” (Exodus 20:12). That is the promise God gave us, and it will come true if we honor our parents. 9 I Red Wine
RED WINE MAY 2015 // A GIFT FOR MOM
However, there is the catch. Forgiveness doesn’t cost you money, but it does require that you make it a conscious act. You must deliver true, honest, lasting forgiveness to your mother. Don’t spend one minute trying to rationalize why you shouldn’t forgive your mother. You can do it. If you don’t think you can, just ask God to help you. Just say out loud wherever you are, “Lord, I forgive my mother for. . .”, and insert the issue that stands between the two of you. The power of God will fill your heart and soul with forgiveness. Whatever you feel your mother has done to you; being absent, not loving or protecting you, allowing you to be abused, living a lifestyle filled with addictions or prostitution, even giving you up for adoption, you can forgive her with God’s help. You can forgive her for divorcing your father or damaging your relationship with him and his family. Only you and your mother know what stands between you. Forgiveness will give you the strength you need to rebuild that relationship. I know this because I did it. I didn’t have a great relationship with my mother. I have forgiven her for what I perceived as her insults and slights. It’s unfortunate I didn’t have this wisdom when I was younger. I spent years despising her and trying to get away from her. Had I forgiven my mother when she was alive, I would have poured my love, time and money over her. I would have lavished her with the love and adoration she deserved, but my understanding and forgiveness came with age and time. I have learned that mothers have weaknesses just like we do. After all, they are only human. Maybe she could have done better by you, but see the importance of forgiveness in your life. It will set you free. It can set her free too. Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give your mother on
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Mother’s Day. If you forgive her from your heart, it will change everything. It is a big step, but forgiveness will restore you. It has the power to heal the pain that may have begun with your mother, but has intensified over the years. Call your mother and tell her you have a gift of forgiveness for her. Tell her exactly what you forgive, even if you told her before. Tell her again but this time make it clear that you forgive her and you want to see health and happiness come into your relationship. Don’t let pride get in the way. Even if you buy her a beautiful gift, buy her a card as well and in it write, “I forgive you mom.”
I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day with your mother. If your mother is no longer with us, tell God that you forgive her and that by doing so you are letting go of the burden of unforgiveness. That is your gift to her, to yourself, and to God. God bless you my friends! Dr. Diana
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