**2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.**
**2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;**

**2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.**

Yesterday I was reading through several of the posts here on Steemit, and I came across one that brought back a memory of my mother singing.  She loved to sing and if she wasn't singing she always had a radio playing her favorite Christian music.

Two of the songs that she often sang were, "Because He lives," and "One day at a time."

I didn't understand why she loved those two song so very much until years later when I had my own family.

My parents were married at a very young age back  in the early 1950's. They dreamed of having a large family and buying a farm, and over the next several years, they were heading in that direction. My dad had worked his way up as a foremen at a local company, and he also started his own plumbing business and worked with two of my oldest brothers to help make ends meet. 

I have no memory of my dad other than pictures. In 1969 he went into the hospital to have valves replaced in his heart, and he never came back home. He passed away following the surgery as all of his organs, one by one failed. My mother was left alone to raise thirteen children between the ages of ten months old, to sixteen years old.

I was two years old at the time, and I have no memory of this loss, but my older brothers and sisters were very affected by his death, and as I was growing up, I'd often listen to them talk about their favorite times with him, and how different life was before he died.

Back in the 60's, most married women were homemakers, and not many worked outside of the home. My mother was no different. After my dad's death, she took different jobs, including cleaning a church, to keep bills paid and food on the table. We didn't have extras at all, every cent earned went into the bare necessities.

Yet, mom never stopped singing. 

A few years ago I was talking with my mother and I told her that I really don't know how she did it, raising all these children, and some of us were not the easiest to raise. I had two children, and sometimes I felt like packing up my bags and heading to Hawaii. If I had as many children as she did, my goal would have likely been a rocket to the moon.

My mom replied, "I never could have faced one day without Jesus." She said, "I never had extra money for gas in the car, yet God always provided." Keeping food in the cupboards was a constant concern, yet there was always a meal on the table." Though I wasn't able to keep up with every moment with all of you kids because I worked so much,"  I was able to pray each morning that God would watch over all of you, and He did."

My mother never had any shyness about telling others what God can do, and how He can strengthen us, comfort us and get us through anything. When anyone she knew was struggling with a loss, my mother could relate and she would pray the most heartfelt prayers for them to be comforted.

My mom is going to be 84 years old in September. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease around 15 years ago. I've got to tell you, that although she often repeats things, I can still have a conversation with her. She came to visit me last summer with my sister-in-law, and she was still singing, "Because he lives," and, "One day at a time." 

She knew the comfort of God in times of trouble and sorrow, and because of that, she was able to comfort and pray sincerely for others who had suffered the loss of a loved one.

She's coming to visit again next month with one of my sisters and my sister-in-law. She is still able to carry on a conversation, although, sometimes it's the same conversation that we had a moment earlier. Her doctor is amazed that she is still able to do so much. I pray every day that God will keep her in a sound mind and in good health, and that he will continue to keep His joy and His peace on her mind and heart, and I believe that He has been doing just that.

We know that life isn't always easy, and we all have gone through difficult times. I can't imagine not having the comfort of Jesus and God's promises that sustain us. God uses even the most difficult times in our lives, to refine us like silver, so that we can comfort others with the same comfort that HE has given us.

My mother back in the 1950's

![IMG_20151206_0003.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZPfi642E67LfzyxxwdaXPPzcDdjNe5drQNvFxtjuHqTD/IMG_20151206_0003.jpg)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnZ8bmEOTM