I Want to be the Apple that Didn’t Fall Far from Her Tree
Goodness gracious! I checked my blog archives and realized that it has been five years, 2015, since I gave credit to where credit is due for ME! Besides God, of course, it is to my dad and precious mother. Today is Mom’s birthday and the cast of characters for this 109th birthday celebration includes Father God, Jesus, the angels, her parents, siblings, my dad and all their children – except for this one girl who is the last one standing on this side of heaven.
We should be big on remembering those responsible for our existence. Happy Birthday to my sweet mama! The best of me came from her. Before I was a twinkle in her eyes, Mom raised my dad’s five and 3 years old children as her own. Then there was my sister born twelve years before me. I wasn’t planned, except God used a train accident that my Mom was in to tweek and rearrange her birthing parts to have me. So, whoala – the final hoorah was ME!
If ever there was an angel on earth, it was my mom. She was my mentor and everything a mother should be. She selflessly gave — “Just give me the fried chicken neck — that’s good enough for me.” She always forgave — “It’s okay. God forgives me all the time. I sure can forgive you.” She loved unconditionally and overlooked the weaknesses of others.
Her integrity and honesty were of the utmost importance to her. She gave me boundaries that worked: “Let your conscience be your guide.” Those words rang in my ears each time I was choosing right or wrong. Our church was her second home — volunteering, serving and giving. She showed me undaunted faith and determination in the toughest of times when my dad was so sick and when our finances were so meager. I heard her praying for me and my siblings from her bedroom. She was unquestionably the most tender, kind-hearted, loving, gentle, caring and pure woman I have ever known. To this day she remains my hero. Her example made me a better me.
Since my mom has much better things to do than to recognize this tribute, I give it more for you and me to see what a role model — in the truest sense of the words — looks like. It is not the things or treasures or inheritance or life insurance or jewelry — that make us. What makes us, and the legacy we leave to our children, are the things that money could never buy. Her influence on me caused me to be honest, to love and care passionately, to put my faith in God during the best and worst of times, to give and to suck it up when I’ve been hurt or offended, to trust in God’s plans for my life and to leave my family with something so much more than the things that can be bought. I intend to leave them the very best of me…..and the very best of me is my precious mother’s example. What are those things that you’ll leave to your children and grandchildren? “Her children rise up, and call her blessed….” Proverbs 31:28