As we celebrate Mother’s Day I am reminded of how God has graciously put a host of great moms in my life.
First and foremost, my wife Kathy. She has been and is a super mom to our children. She is the one who has built communication into our family. She loves unconditionally, is tender-hearted about the family and is loyal to family members. She continues great communication and support to our kids even now as they are adults. She has been a faithful prayer warrior for them. When they hurt, we hurt and Kathy experiences it in a dimension that probably only other moms would understand. She has and continues to model a positive ministry life-style to our family. She does not just put up with ministry…she loves ministry and practices it well.
My own mom has been in heaven for 12 years now. She was a great “homemaker”. I am grateful that for most of my school days she was a stay-at-home mom. The food was good (most of the time…squash excluded). Looking back, I realize things that I either did not know or didn’t appreciate at the time. That includes the great love and communication she had with her own mom, sister and aunt. OFTEN she would be on the phone with one of them…not for long, but it was constant communication. I appreciate her heart for spiritual matters. Our church was a high priority to her. She worked in a children’s ministry for so many years…up until she just could not do it anymore physically. Naturally, my grandmother, aunt and great-aunt were influential as well. They were ALL great cooks and my grandmother did not make me eat anything I didn’t want – it was only when my mom was along that I had to eat (or hide) the parts of the meal that I didn’t like. My great-aunt was a wonderful intercessor in prayer for me…I felt that loss when she passed away. My aunt was a great fan…if I ever would have decided to run for any kind of office she would have been an intricate part of the campaign committee.
And then I think of Angela, Heidi and Kristen. I respect and love them and appreciate their parenting of our wonderful grandchildren. All 8 of the grandchildren have their own respective personalities, temperaments, and even idiosyncrasies. I enjoy watching them deal with those individual personalities! (Yes, I must admit there have been times when I have heard them share exasperation about a strong will, or obsessive-compulsive traits and inside I think “Yea, I know…just like you! Serves you right!” I don’t verbalize it…but must confess it is there at times.
Although my mother-in-law has been in heaven for about 38 years, I still look back and appreciate her spot in my life as well. Certainly, she did NOT fit the stereo-type of a difficult mother-in-law. One thing I remember is she was one of my loyal supporters – even sometimes choosing to side with me, instead of Kathy!!! (Those were the days…)
I am also reminded of many women in my home church who, without doubt had a profound spiritual influence on me. The names won’t mean anything to most people, but I thank God for women like Blanche Davis, Pearl Mohr, Mary Tyler, Maxine Bechtel and a host of others who effectively taught the Word of God and cared for us as children. And only heaven will reveal the influence of Louise Scholes (and her wonderful husband) who was a great influence upon me beginning in my days as a pastoral staff intern. Mrs. Scholes continued to be a great prayer warrior for me and one who communicated with me at least a couple of times a year even into her late 90′s, up until just last year when God called her home. I talked with her on the phone the day before she passed away and with a very weak and frail voice she told me to stay spiritually strong and always hold to the Word of God.
So, Happy Mother’s Day to all. I am truly grateful for the moms in my life!
