A MOM FOREVER

Mom died over twenty years ago, but she is still an influence in my life. I enjoy memories of our tea-time talks after school in my senior year of high school. We had moved from a small town where I had always walked to and from school, to a major city where I had to take public transportation to a private school.

First of all, the bus took me downtown. My social education was expanded as I saw a wide variety of ethnic groups. From there it seemed a long route north then west to my school. The process reversed in the afternoon and it was always a great relief to exit the bus at my corner.

One of my earliest memories is of Mom kneeling at her bedside. She would leave the door open and tell me to call her if needed. In later years I remembered her reading her Bible day after day, each year from a different translation.

As a minister’s wife, she was active in hospitality. I enjoyed the missionaries and evangelists in our home. Only as an adult did I realize the extra work it required. Mom was also active in visitation with Dad and in organizing the women’s missionary council fund-raising sales, and Vacation Bible School.

Mom also took an interest in her three children’s daily education. She was unable to complete high school, but later got her GED. She made sure our homework was done and any bad verbal grammar was corrected immediately.

I always smile when I remember the contrast between first and second grade. I loved my first-grade teacher but the second one not at all. One day I walked home from school during recess. Mom immediately walked me back instructing me to “never do that again!”

Thanks to Mom, I learned positive character choices and social skills, but that wasn’t all. Spiritual lessons were shared at home and church, and I learned much by observing her choices and interactions with others.

As I grew into adulthood, Mom and I became friends. I rarely got to live near her, but we talked on the phone often and sometimes got to visit in person.

Some phrases in Proverbs 10 (NKJV) remind me of Mom. For example: (v.7) The memory of the righteous is blessed, (V. 11) The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, and (v. 14) Wise people store up knowledge.  

Mom, though you are gone, you are mine forever and I’m looking forward to that great reunion day!

POSTSCRIPT: A NOTE REGARDING RECOVERY FROM MY UNEXPECTED FALL ON MARCH 21, 2024:

      Thank you to all those who have prayed for my recovery. Give God the glory. Since breaking my right femur and having surgery on March 21st, I now have a rod in my leg, titanium repair at the "neck" of the hip, and a safe new metal ball joint.

I am also thankful for all the friends and family who were caregivers 24/7 when I got out of rehab, after a hospital stay. I now do most things independently and have only a nighttime caregiver which should end next week. With the good report from my surgeon on May 7, all restrictions were removed. I'm still on a walker, but practicing with a cane.