A Romanian Mother's Day

So, this Mother's Day, I had the absolute blessing to join the Jurma family for church and then Sunday dinner. Jane and Duane Jurma and I go to the University of Georgia and we are all three involved with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Several months ago, Jane and I were talking about her church and she had invited me to come sometime. Somehow despite a couple of misunderstandings, it all worked out that I would be coming this Sunday- Mother's Day. Though, I wasn't part of their family, I was welcomed and included.
Most of the day I took the pleasure and joy to sit back and let the beautiful Romanian language flow, swirl, and at times rush past my ears. I did not know any Romanian at the beginning of the day. I still only know Zeu este bine which means God is good. What more do you need? I find this particularly and personally amusing because on my first trip to Peru four years ago, the first phrase I learned was  Gloria a Dios which means Glory to God. On a side note, I cannot believe it has been four years ago that I got on a plane for the first time, first time out of the country, without my parents, on a direct flight to Lima to then fly to the Amazon. Goodness my life has changed so much since then!
But back to the present, the message brought by the pastor was so wonderful. I was given an earbud that was connected to a translator in the back so I could understand in English. He spoke about Hannah which seems entirely cliche for Mother's Day but something about it resonated with me. I felt inspired to act on my relationship with my mother after listening. I think that is so important. To listen and do nothing, means nothing.
After church, we went to one  of their family member's home where we were to have Mother's Day Sunday Dinner. I had not expected to be a part of this special day and meal but somehow I found myself at the right hand of the family patriarch. My seat was entirely chance but I felt honored to be at the adult table and not with the kids though I am sure that would have been a really fun event as well. You see, I had had a complete discussion of the Disney princesses with a nine year old while we were waiting on the food to finish cooking. :) The food was so good and it kept coming! I checked my watch after about the fifth course of food have been delivered to the table and it had been over two and a half hours!
It felt wonderful to be included in their family on this special day especially when I could not have been with my own. I had marveled to Mrs. Jurma at the size of her family to which she replied "Oh, this is not that many! You should see this house when we are all here!" I could not imagine being from a family that when we gather for Christmas and include my great aunts and uncles down to my third cousins only number twenty one people!
I do not think that this family knows what it meant to me but they most surely reflected Christ in their words and actions. So, I say thank you again. Zeu este bine!