Banana Splits

Banana Splits

5:34

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,’” Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬, NIV‬‬.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬, ESV‬‬.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬, ‭NIV‬‬.

Mother’s Day 2026, it’s been six months since my mom has joined Jesus in heaven. Six months of trying to figure life out as an orphan. Yes, I know I’m a child of God, and therefore will always have my Heavenly Father, but I’m talking about an earthly orphan, where both my dad and mom are no longer alive.

God has been very gracious to me, wiping away tears, supplying much needed comfort or distraction. He has also taught me that I need to be heavenly focused. Which includes longing to see my parents once more as I build up His kingdom. I’m not to sit around focusing only on the past.

I need to be thankful for the gifts right in front of me—my family, church, ministry, and so much more.

This Mother’s Day I asked my family for a distraction. I knew that it might be a sad day. I wanted to be in the presence of a loving family who understood and missed my mom as much as I did.

I do desire to remember those who have gone on before me; yet I want to gaze with adoration on those who sit around my table. Where we can remember together.

I have been blessed with a loving God, a devoted husband, honorable kids, and a daughter-in-love like no other. They are all gifts from God, in which I am indeed thankful. Because of them I was appropriately distracted, until dessert.

My youngest wanted to honor his grandmother and thought up the sweetest way to do so, by serving banana splits. It was my mom’s go-to dessert for her company. My mom’s simple hospitality served with whipped cream.

I smiled when it was served. But after a few bites, I needed to be excused from the table to remember my mom privately. As I cried, I drew near to God, and He, as promised, drew near to me.

God doesn’t abandon the crushed in spirit or the weary. He shelters them. We just need to be willing to notice and give Him thanks for it.

As I returned to the table where the laughter continued, I could join in with a full heart of gratitude.

God is for the brokenhearted.

Are you brokenhearted today? Will you draw near to God, so He can draw near to you? He eagerly awaits you asking.

Father,

You are joy. You also understand deep sorrow. You are the Creator yet have been abandoned by many. You created Jesus to bring us hope. Help us to receive Jesus’s love, sacrifice, and His hope.

Help us Father to see something that we can be thankful for in the midst of our grief. Maybe it’s believing it won’t last? Maybe it’s the character we know we will receive, by going through the trial? Even though it’s only a percentage of our future gratitude, it’s a start. And indeed, we say, “Thank You.”

Thank You Father for never leaving us, nor forsaking us. We really need You, in the joy and the sorrow.

Thank You for my mom’s hospitality. May I continue to learn from her graciousness in order to serve You and love others well.

We love You, Father. Thank You that we are forever part of Your family.

Amen.