Colombia by Sergio Garces

La Piedra del Penol

Photograph taken from the top of La Piedra del Penol.
La Represa de Guatape



La Bandeja Paisa (a traditional dish)

Photographs taken by Sergio Garces during a recent trip to Colombia.

Featured Author: Donna Sundblad (Devotional for Mothers and Daughters)

JUST IN TIME FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Over two million copies of the beloved Cup of Comfort® brand in print!

A CUP OF COMFORT^® DEVOTIONAL FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

Daily Reminders of God’s Love and Grace Edited by James Stuart Bell and Susan Townsend

Author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate, Donna Sundblad has written six devotionals which have been included in A Cup of Comfort^®Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (March 10, 2009; Adams Media) edited by James Stuart Bell and Susan Townsend. Donna's stories span a number of years, everything from the day she was ready to bring her daughter home from the hospital almost 40 years ago to a conversation she and her daughter had last year. There's also a special story about Donna and her mother.

In the short interview below Donna shares some of her stories and a little about herself.

Give me a little background on yourself and the stories you write about in this new book.

I grew up in a close-knit family and was honored to know my great-grandparents and grandparents. This story is about what I went through when it came time to move away from my family and friends for the first time. I was 38 years-old at the time. My mother's prayer for me that day is burned into my memory. It was life changing. I know it wasn't any easier for her to say goodbye to me. In some ways it might have been harder. I was leaving with her grandchildren, but she trusted me to the Lord in a way that blessed me. People will have to read the devotional to see what I mean. They can find "Stay Rooted" on page 282.

The stories I contributed to this devotional offer glimpses into moments in time when God impressed me with an illustration of his love and or faithfulness through circumstances of everyday life. I really enjoyed writing for this collection because it has eternal value. I've been so blessed and I'm honored to have the opportunity to share those blessings with others. Along with the faithfulness and love of God, my stories touch on topics like comfort, obedience, and wisdom--the way God teaches us heavenly lessons through worldly incidents. That's exactly what this book is about...tangible lessons that stick with you throughout the day along with a Scripture verse.

For me personally, the book came out the day before my daughter's birthday. It was such a perfect gift, and now I know what I'll be giving my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day. It doesn't get much more special than this! Just think, I'll be able to give back to my mom in a special way. She may not even remember that moment back in March 1989 when she said that prayer, but now through the Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters I hope it will bless her in the same way it blessed me 20 years ago.

I am curious about your relationship with the many women in your family…your mother, daughter and great grandmother…what qualities do you share with them and how did they bring out the best in you…

My great-grandparents owned a small farm. My great-grandmother lived through some very difficult times. Her first husband was an alcoholic who tried to kill her. She ran for her life as he chased her with a gun. He shot, she stumbled and fell as the bullet grazed her hand. He thought he had killed her and turned the gun on himself. This left her a young widow with four young children. She worked hard cleaning houses, but she needed help with the children. The siblings were separated and went to stay with different family members. My great grandmother married a polish immigrant, and reunited the family. I'm not sure my great-grandparents loved each other at the outset of that relationship, but they made it work. They were still sleeping in the same bed by the time I was in my 20s, so God blessed their efforts to do the right thing.

My grandmother and I were extremely close. I remember when she turned 40, when she started coloring her hair, when she got her false teeth, when her eyesight started to go. I spent many weekends and vacations with my grandparents. Their youngest child was only six months older than me. In fact, my mother was three months pregnant with me when she helped deliver that baby in her mother's kitchen. We saw each other every weekend as we made the trek to their house or they came to ours (along with aunts and uncles).

I moved away from my family when I was 38 years old when my husband took a job in another state. It was not an easy thing to do. I'm thankful for the strong bonds that were established because now I'm experiencing the same with my daughter and granddaughter (and grandson).

My family has handed me a legacy. You don't quit when the going gets tough, you do your part and trust God for the outcome.

• Read Chapter 1 of Pumping Your Muse
• Read Chapter 1 of Windwalker
• Read Chapter 1 of Beyond the Fifth Gate
• Read previous blog post about Donna Sundblad
  
• Read more about Donna Sundblad
• www.cupofcomfort.com

• James Stuart Bell served as editorial director at Moody Press for many years. His work includes A Cup of Comfort^® Devotional for Women and A Cup of Comfort^®for Christians. Before joining Moody Press, he was the director of religious publishing at Doubleday in New York.

• Susan B. Townsend author of A Bouquet for Mom is a writer of nonfiction and fiction and a stay-at-home mother. Her work has appeared in A Cup of Comfort^® for Mothers and Daughters and A Cup of Comfort^® for Teachers.