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The Cross & the Pen: The Heart of a Mother

Eva Marie Everson

I met Wayne Holmes via the Internet before I met him in person. We know a lot of the same people and have done some "Net-working" together. This past summer we met face-to-face for the first time and it was like meeting an old friend. Wayne's first book, The Heart of a Father, (Bethany, 2002) is a collection of true stories about fathers and their children and includes stories by people like Josh McDowell, Chuck Swindoll and Gary Smalley. On the success of the first book, Wayne has now released (just in time for Mother's Day!) the sequel, The Heart of a Mother (Bethany, 2003), which compiles stories by people like Stormie Omartian, Gloria Gaither and Max Lucado.

Eva: Wayne, your book is a perfect gift or "extra gift" for mothers or for those who are like mothers to us-and especially for Mother's Day. And I think it's terrific that a man compiled the book. Can you tell the readers of The Cross & The Pen how you came about with the conception?

Wayne: I have to give credit to my editor who suggested The Heart of a Mother as a natural companion volume to The Heart of a Father. I think your question, however, goes more to the overall concept of both books. Occasionally a piece of writing so influences our lives that it creates a turning point. The story in the father book titled "See You at the House" by Bob Benson was one such story for me. After reading his story I never saw God the Father in the same light. I began to see him as a loving Heavenly Father who cheers for his children and often overlooks their mistakes. I wanted to take that story--and others like it--and put them together in one book that would honor God and give people a deeper understanding of his love for his children.

Eva: My personal favorite from The Heart of a Mother  is by Janice Thompson.  She shares that one of her children is not a "blood child" but still very much her own.  Because we have that situation in our family, my eyes filled with tears and I found myself saying, "Yes, yes! That's exactly how I feel..." What about you? Do you have a favorite?

Wayne: "The Day Mamma Baked the Bird," by Clint Kelly is my personal favorite. He blends humor into his story but then does a beautiful job of showing how his mother demonstrated the character of God. I love this line from his closing: "God is a cradler, a Redeemer of lost causes...."

Eva: Wayne, tell me about your mother.

Wayne: I am fortunate to have a godly mother who has always provided for my needs and loved me unconditionally. She's supported me through not only good times but also when times were tough. She's always said to me, "Wayne, you can do anything you set your mind to." In recent years her health has been a struggle and she has risen to the occasion by implementing a vigorous exercise program and making the changes in her diet to combat her diabetes. She's been a powerful example of love and courage.

Eva: That leads me perfectly into the next question: we know the importance of a child's relationship to their father when it comes to their perspective of God.  What about the role of a mother?

Wayne: The role of mother is as equally important as that of the father. In some situations where a father is absent it is of utmost importance. Male and female were both created in the image of God. I believe we need a balance of the father/mother role to give us the best portrait of the character of God.

Eva: Well said, Wayne. What does The Heart of a Mother offer to people who didn't grow up with a godly mother?

Wayne: The mother book gives real-life examples of what good mothering is all about. It helps those who didn't have a good role model for a mom to see how it should be done right.

Eva: Who is Mrs. Wayne Holmes?

Wayne: My wife, Linda, is a sweet, godly mother and wife who has been supportive of my writing and an example to our children. Like many mothers today, she works hard both inside and outside of the home to provide for the needs of those she loves.

Eva: Do you and your wife have children?

Wayne:  We have four children. Crystal, age 25. Barcley, age 23. Melissa, age 16. And Brett, age 15. They keep us on our toes.

Eva: Wayne, when I had children, my entire view of God changed.  How about you?

Wayne: Watching my children being born was the most spiritual time in my life. I saw a deeper, more intimate side of God as I watched the miracle of creation. Then, as they grew up, I learned more and more lessons about God's all-encompassing love for his children. I wanted to understand God's love more fully and I wanted to share that knowledge with each of my children.

Eva: Did anything change within you as you compiled this book?

Wayne: One of my goals in compiling The Heart of a Mother was the hope that the readers would be drawn into a deeper relationship with God. The stories personally drew me in and did for me what I had hoped it would do for others. It is my prayer that through the stories presented, many will come to understand how deep God's love for them is.

Eva: Wayne, would you pen a prayer for mothers?

Wayne: Heavenly Father, In your wisdom and mercy you created mothers-women who love us unconditionally, provide for our nourishment, watch over us while we work and play, protect us from unseen enemies, believe in us when others give up, stand by us when others abandon us, and who cry with us when we are hurt. The god-like qualities you have instilled into the personalities of mothers' leads us to believe and trust in you. Mothers are a living demonstration of your own heart, and we are grateful. Amen.

 

The Cross & the Pen is a joint effort of Crosswalk.com and Eva Marie Everson, owner of A Pen in Hand.

Eva Marie Everson is also the author of Shadow of Dreams & Summon the Shadows and an award-winning national speaker. She can be contacted for comments or for speaking engagement bookings at Bridegroomsbride@aol.com or you can go to her website  here.