🎃The TREAT of October 31st, 1922🎃
This sweet little lady is my dear mother-in-law, Lydia (Winick) Wuerch, who God presented to the world 99 years ago today. Though she was born on the day attributed to Halloween, she was always the TREAT, not the trick. I talk a lot about her because her life changed my life since I was 12 years old. You have been richly blessed if you have known Mom as your dear friend, mentor, close relative, or pastor’s wife who always encouraged, supported, and caused you to laugh at her wit and sense of humor.
I’m sure God had a hand in her parents naming her “Lydia” which means “worshipper of God“! And true to her name, she has been a true worshipper of God. You’ll find her at any given time with her Bible in hand (even at 99 she finds her strength in God’s Word). She prays for her family and friends in her little sanctuary (her bedroom that Dad, her husband, had a hand in enlarging for Karen and George 30+ years ago for their daughter and when he surmised he might be the one who would live with them some day). You may be the recipient of her phone calls to encourage you. That’s the way she has rolled in this autumn season of her life (her season of transition and completion).
Mom means the world to me. The greatest gift she gave me was her beloved son. That beautiful boy who became a beautiful man stole my heart forever. Our love for each other stood the test of time, the test of tough and good times, the test of sickness and in health, the test of raising kids, the test of trusting God through every challenge. I am ever grateful for the strong faith that she instilled in him; for the man of God he was, for the sense of humor, and, even for those “perfection” qualities that came straight from Mom’s perfection qualities that caused him to expect excellence from all of us. I thank Mom for instilling in him his musical gifts that gave much encouragement and joy to others. I thank her for everything about that precious man that filled my life with love and joy….most of the time!
Though she’s my mother-in-law, it has always been natural to call her “Mom”. She treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was 12-years-old and was an accomplice with my mom in ensuring their two kiddos would marry AND stay married! Their strategies (and many prayers) worked well!
Mom was my role model as I watched her be a strong woman of God who served so beautifully as a loving, faithful and devoted pastor’s wife, organist, Sunday School teacher, women and children’s leader, and so many other ministries that she devoted her heart and life to.
I know many funny, and often “catty” remarks are said about mothers-in-law. That’s too bad, because if it weren’t for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts. We should love, respect, appreciate, and honor them. And, isn’t that the kind of “in-law” we want to be for our children’s and grandchildren’s spouses?
I’m putting Mom out there today, front and center, for everyone to see what a mother-in-law should look like. Not the exterior, though she is and always has been a beautiful, stately woman, but she did the best of what God called her to do. She walked God’s walk AND talked His talk. She has been a Proverbs 31 woman — the one that her children ALL rise up and call her blessed. She sure makes me want to up my game!
Mom, I celebrate the gift of you in my life and to so many others who have been impacted by your grace and beauty for so many years! I love you so much.
Happy “99th” Birthday, Mom! We love you so much!