A Very, Very, Very Special Happy Birthday

Linny Saunders74 Comments
Last summer I went on the cruise with my mom (bottom left) and
her good friend Linda. We had an absolute blast!
(That’s the sweetest waitress ever on a Cruise Ship standing next to me!) Seventy-six years ago today the Lord gave a very special treasure to this world. She would not have it easy. It was the Great Depression and life was tough. She also was the youngest of nine very hungry mouths. Not really set up to be the spoiled baby, just one more mouth to feed.
By the time she was 13, her parents were separating and told her, “Find a place to live cause we are moving to separate places.” They moved to other cities. She lied about her age, got a job and an apartment and lived alone. It was 1946. Not many 13 year olds can do that too successfully.
She was pregnant soon after. Married an abuser. Had a second baby. Ran for her life. Divorced. Eventually married another abuser. She would go on to have two more children, I was one of them. Alcohol had become her comfort. Life was difficult. Painful. Days married to an abuser are long. Days married to an abuser with a few kids are really long.
But inside her heart there was a cry: “If you really exist God, then show yourself to me!” And one day, while riding in the backseat of a car she cried out in her heart: “God if you are really there, take my broken life and use it for something good.” Soon after that heartfelt prayer she called a little Baptist church with a sign out front. She chose that church because the sign said something about God. The rest is history. She was baptized and sold out to Jesus Christ. She no longer had any desire for alcohol.
She spent her days reading her Bible, praying and studying everything she could about her new love – Jesus! Soon I accepted Christ as my Savior too, as did my brothers.
Life in our home was not easy, but my mom persevered by the grace of God and raised three kids who love Christ and are actively living for Him. My mom worked hard while I was growing up. She talked to us about all kinds of things. She listened. I remember as a little girl getting up because I could not sleep and there would be my mom, on her knees, in the living room praying. She prayed for us all the time. I don’t know that I would be here today if it weren’t for her persistent prayers.
Now, many years later, my parents are divorced. My mom lives not far from us in a senior apartment. She willingly helps us with whatever we need. She drives the kids to stuff at church. She finds boxes for Memorial Boxes I need to ship. She irons Dw’s shirts. Whatever we need, she wants to help. She serves at our church as a greeter. She has a Bible study in her home for seniors. She shares Christ with anyone who will listen. She has led people to Christ on the street, in parking lots, in senior places. She wants all to know how Christ changed her life and that He can do that for them too.
So on her very special day I want to honor my mom: Bonnie
Thank you Mom for being such an awesome mom!!
Happy Birthday Mom – I love you!!
She is a treasure to many, many people.
Wish her a Happy Birthday with me, could you?
She’d be soooo tickled!!

74 thoughts on “A Very, Very, Very Special Happy Birthday”

  3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

    You sound like an amazing woman. A strong, persevering, God-filled woman. On this side of Heaven, I want to thank you for your witness and prayers. I want to thank you for loving your children enough for both you and your husband. And I want to thank you for raising a wonderful daughter that so many lean on today (including me!)

    So today, on your birthday, I pray it is filled with joy and laughter. You deserve it!

    Happy birthday!!!

    Reply

  8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BONNIE!

    What a gift YOU are!

    …look around at what you have given the world…one of those greatest being your little girl…

    You and Jesus are an AMAZING team!

    Many, many happy returns of the day!

    With Love and Prayers,
    Amy

    Reply

  12. I love love love hearing this story about your sweet mom!! Mom's are so special! What a wonderful woman who has persevered through many hardships- God Bless her! I bet the Lord is very pleased with her! What a wonderful example she is- for her children and grandchildren!

    Nothing better than a momma on her knees praying!

    Happy Birthday Bonnie!!! God Bless You!! You go girl!

    Reply

  15. Happy Birthday dear Bonnie!

    I thank you for the godly heritage that you are passing down to your children and now to your grandchildren. You are a blessed woman, and a blessing! I am honored to wish you a happiest of birthdays!
    In Him,
    Alycia

    Reply

  21. Happy Birthday to you
    A happy Birthday to you
    May you find Jesus near
    Every day of the year
    A happy Birthday to you.

    Linny what a wonderful testament of the changing power of God. Hugs and love

    btw – you look like your mom!!

    Reply

  24. Happy Birthday Bonnie!!! You sound like my Grama:O) I think I'll call her and tell her thank you for the amazing legacy she passed on to me. I'm thankful for the legacy that you passed on to your daughter, because she blesses me so much each day.
    God Bless you and may you have many happy more years!!
    Jenn

    Reply

  28. today I join Heaven in rejoicing over your mom!

    ****
    Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
    Luke 15
    *****

    Reply

  29. Happy Birthday Mama Bonnie! You are an angel and so I see now where your daughter has gotten her kindness and good heartedness from! I truly hope you have the best year of your life!
    Richita Grace

    Reply

  30. Bonnie, what a beautiful, amazing woman you are! And what a beautiful, amazing daughter you have raised! I am so glad to meet you, and I pray you will have a wonderful, joy-filled birthday! Blessings to you and your sweet family today!

    Reply

  36. Happy Birthday Linny's mom!!! 🙂 I hope you have an amazingly wonderful day that is filled with many blessing!

    What a truly amazing testimony of God's strength and faithfulness!!

    Reply

  37. You know I love your momma! She is a wonderful, sweet lady, who brightens my every Sunday. Happy Birthday Grandma (I want to be one of her grandkids too!).

    Reply

  38. Linn,

    Thank you so much for sharing your Mom's story. My mother is an alcoholic and the relationship with her has been broken for a long time (such a long time in fact that we haven't spoken in over 2 years). I pray for her daily to have healing and to find the Lord. My heart hurts for not having a relationship with her and not being able to share the big things in life with her. It's awesome to hear that it is possible (of course I know all things are possible through Christ!) Thank you for your encouragement through the stories you have.

    God Bless!

    Jessica

    Reply

  49. What an awesome testimony your mom has! God can make beauty from ashes…your mom is proof of that. She sounds like an incredible woman. I pray she has a Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  52. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. BONNIE!! I hope it is/was a very good & blessed day!! Thank you so much for Linny, she is such a blessing! She gets my spirit moving for sure!! 🙂

    Reply

  53. happy birthday, miss bonnie!! isn't it awesome how the Lord redeems and uses the broken!! so glad your life is full and active and all for God's glory. i don't know your sons, but your daughter is a treasure, so you have raised children well up, in the Lord. you have stored your treasures in heaven!! may God richly bless you on your special day!!
    wishing you many many more birthdays to come!!

    Reply

  58. Happy Happy Birthday Bonnie. Today is my very very special adopted son's birthday. He is 9 years old today. You inspire me to be on my knees in the middle of the night when I can't sleep. You are the perfect example of how God redeems everything in our lives if we will just surrender and allow Him too. Thank you for the inspiration! You rock!!!!

    Reply

  60. Happy birthday, Bonnie, the mom of the Mom of Many! What a living testimony you are of God's life transforming grace and what a legacy you have created for your children and grandchildren. May the coming year be full of many blessings.

    Much Love,
    Kathie

    Reply

  65. Happy Happy Birthday dear Bonnie! What a wonderful lady you are! I hope the Lord blesses you with a fabulous year and a chance to spend time with your newest grand-daughter Jubilee!

    Love from England,
    Kate

    Reply

  66. Happy Belated Birthday to an amazing women of God! What a beautiful story you have to share with so many people! Tears filled my eyes as I read about the love the Father has for you! I pray that you had a blessed birthday and many more to come! 🙂 Love, Jinny

    Reply

  71. What a stunning tribute.

    Happy, happy birthday to Linny's VERY special mommy. I can see that the apple really does not fall far from the tree–servant mother and servant daughter! Amazing.

    May you be blessed in the year ahead. May the voice of the Father continue to lead and guide you in all you do. How blessed you are to have the family God has blessed you with.

    Much love and biggest hugs
    Adeye

    Reply

  73. Bonnie,
    I was so excited to hear that you would be visiting friends in Virginia! I hope you have a wonderful birthday and a fun filled trip visiting friends and family.
    All our love, Bill and Lori Luhrs

    Reply

  74. Happy Birthday a little late! Thank you for sharing your precious daughter with the blog world. Now, I see where she gets her passion! 🙂
    Hugs from the East!!!
    xoxo

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>