Good morning, Sunrisers! Today is National Mother-in-Law Day. I've known many mothers-in-law who were the biggest — and even successful — threats to their children's marriages. I was in two weddings where the animosity of the groom's mother for the bride was so great the entire bridal party were walking on eggshells. Twice we literally held our breath, expecting her to pipe up when the minister called out "Speak now, or forever hold your peace." Neither spoke out, but neither did they hold their peace. One bride soon refused to visit her husband's parents or allow his mother in their house. The other divorced both mother-in-law and son. My mother-in-law was ready to love me from the day I met her, and she did. She told everyone that I was the daughter she'd always wanted, and she always treated me like she had given birth to me herself. "A mother-in-law’s praise says more in a woman’s favor than anything else in the world.” — Caroline Pafford Miller My mother-in-law bragged to her friends about "how good" I was to her. I know, because they told me all the time. But the credit is hers, not mine. I'm not stupid: When my husband's mother offered me not just friendship but real maternal love, I grabbed it — and never let go. I already owed her a lot. She trained my husband to open doors and hold chairs for me. She taught him that a woman likes to show off new clothes and new hairstyles. I was floored the first time I brought home new clothes when he said, "Fashion show!" and sat back so I could model each new purchase for him. New shoes and new hairstyles need an outing, usually dinner. And she didn't hesitate to tell my husband he was wrong. She was very upset that he didn't call me from the first trade show he attended after we married. When he got home, she and my father-in-law had a talk with him. "When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that’s something.” — Lou Gehrig Mom, for she quickly became a mom, and I had fun together. We went to our fitness center together, we shopped together. She insisted on buying me a fur coat because I'd always wanted one. Most importantly, she represented God's love to me more clearly than everything that I had experienced before. I had been sharp with her. In my defense, I had been in a LOT of pain that day. But if anyone deserved my courtesy and kindness in every circumstance, she did. The next day, I walked the path between our house and hers, scuffing my shoes in the sandy soil and feeling lower than the worms I looked for. I was going to apologize, and I was filled with such shame I didn't know how to begin. I never had to. She had already forgiven me. She'd known immediately that the day before had been a bad one for me. She had refused to take offense when she had every right. She had simply been waiting for me to receive her forgiveness. I had 18 years with her, and it wasn't enough. I miss her every day. "A mother gives you a life, a mother-in-law gives you her life." — Amit Kalantri Time for coffee and prayer. God bless all here. 💛

"I will never laugh at anyone for grieving over a loved beast. I think God wants us to love Him *more,* not to love creatures (even animals) *less.* We love everything *in one way* too much (i.e., at the expense of our love for Him), but in another way we love everything too little. "No person, animal, flower, or even pebble has ever been loved too much — i.e., more than every one of God's works deserves." — C.S. Lewis, from a letter For reflection: Psalm 148:1-14

✨️welcoming an awesome new member to Stronger Together ✨️ @HopefullySC 🇺🇲