My Mom Is ...
And so that's what I'm going to do.
"Her children arise and call her blessed."
Hands down and with boldness I have always, and will always say that my mother has had the most significant impact on my life." {Besides Jesus that is.}
And that isn't to say that there haven't been countless other people that made significant contributions to who I am today, and who I continue to become. But the reality is my mother has poured into my life for 40 years. FORTY YEARS.
I am confident that without her authentic faith lived out before me, day-in-day-out those first 18 years, I probably would not have chosen Christ as the one I have given my life to and for all eternity. Bottom line - she walked the talk.
My mom is the one that led me to Jesus. When I was five, sitting in the bathtub she helped me to ask Jesus to come into my life. And she has mentored and discipled and nurtured my faith from that day forward.
My mom is {and always has been} a prayer warrior. She is the one I go to when I am in desperate need of prayer.
My mom loves candy corn and circus peanuts and those are both gross and I hate when she purposely breaths on me after she eats those disgusting bits of food. And that's about the only thing that my mom does that I don't like!
My mom has God's wisdom. She never just says what she thinks I want to hear - she says what the Truth of the Bible says about whatever I'm going through. She calls me out on things - she's one of the few that do that in my life and while that is hard to hear at times, it is life-giving. She redirects when I get caught up in self. She points out God's perspective. Always.
My mom is silly and she love, love, LOVES to laugh. Those of you that know me know that I love silly. And I get that straight from my mother. I wonder if she's through having gas?
My mom is creative. She can look at something and paint it or sew it or quilt it or whatever it.... She does it all.
My mom didn't give up. She came from a lousy family life. As her mother was giving birth to her, her biological father was out having an affair. And so her mother raised 3 of her children on her own, until she remarried. And then that guy turned out to be a jerk, too. Cheating. This time leaving her mom with 5 little ones. {I could think of a few choice words I'd like to call the guy but I'll try to keep this family friendly!} And so the reality is, while that left her wounded it didn't destroy her. She turned to God in the midst of her pain and God gave her strength and victory despite the failure of her father and family structure. And the fact that she didn't give up comes through in a million little ways. Like when she's doing a project. If the sewing machine isn't working, she doesn't give up. She just fiddles and works at it and as she always says, "If you're getting frustrated just stop and put it down and come back to it later. Don't let it ruin your joy for the project you're doing." See, she's wise, eh?
My mom loves the Bible and loves God. While she leaves a great legacy in a LOT of ways, I believe her greatest legacy is her genuine, authentic faith ... her love of God and His son Jesus. As she always says, "Alysa, the Word of God changes lives."
My mom can do anything. Name something and I'm sure she's done it or could do it if she wanted to. Why at the ripe age of 50 (or somewhere in there) she decided she wanted to learn how to play the clarinet, and so she did.
My mom loves music and I know that is where my love of music began. And I'm passing this on to my children.
My mom is a rule-follower. When we play games she has to read the rules in their entirety before we start. And heaven-forbid if we deviate from the rules. {This is, perhaps, where she and I differ the greatest. I say, "Rules, schmules. They're either made to be broken or bent." I'm hoping my children take after her and not me - or Jack for that matter.}
My mom is grateful and kind-hearted. She has a servant's heart. She will do anything to help. Always.
My mom says that meals are always best shared. And I completely concur. She has a generous heart and we grew up with people in our home. Open door always. Never an inconvenience. Always spontaneous and always making people feel welcomed. We shared countless meals with strangers and friends alike. We didn't have much but what we did have, we shared. That we learned and that is part of my fabric that I am most proud of. Thank you, Mom.
My mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. And the secret is shortening, not butter.
My mom is trustworthy. I remember like it was yesterday, in junior high, coming downstairs late one night crying, wanting to share some deep dark secret with my mom. And I asked her to not tell Dad or anyone else. And she said she wouldn't. And you know what. She didn't. Ever. And I know she will take that secret to her grave because she is trustworthy. And that is a big, big deal to me. Because she was/is trustworthy I can continue to go to her when I have failed or when I'm scared or when I feel inadequate as a mother and I know she won't judge. Because she is a woman to be trusted.
My mom loves to read and I know that's where my love for books stems from. Another thing I'm passing on to the next generation. {Secretly, we don't like it when Mom picks up a book because we know we've just lost her for several hours. She just can't put it down. But when Maddie picks up a book and reads and reads it makes me instantly think of my mom. And I love that.}
My mom doesn't live close to me geographically, and hasn't since I left for college 22 years ago, and that actually makes me really sad. It gets harder as the years pass by, but we don't wallow in sadness over what we can't change. We choose to be thankful that we get to call consistently and visit several times a year, don't we Mom?
My mom didn't necessarily sit down and come up with her list of 10 things her children were going to learn under her tutelage. She simply loved God and loved others and lived out the principles of the Bible. If Jesus said to be kind to strangers, then that's what she did. If Jesus said to have joy in spite of your circumstances, then that's what she did. If Jesus said to treat others as you would want them to treat you, then that's what she did.
My mom has a strong belief that God would provide. She absolutely believes that He knows our needs and provides for those needs. She has a trust that is deeper and stronger than anyone else I know. While times might be hard she never doubts the goodness of God and the providing hand of God. She often says that she might not have a lot of money but her "Dad {aka God} owns the cattle on a thousand hills."
And so today, mom, I pray that you feel honored and cherished and loved. Sorry I didn't get my act together and get your gift to you last week while we were together. That was on my to-do list but just didn't get done.
Mom you ARE Proverbs 31. Literally. And that amazes me because quite frankly that chapter in the Bible exhausts me every time I read it. As I always say, if I live to be half the mother you are then my kids will turn out okay. Actually, if I end up being a 27th of the mother you are then they'll be in good shape. But I'll shoot for the moon and think "half as good as mom". Over-achiever that I am.
You are a delight. You believe the best about me. You are my biggest cheerleader. You continue to live out your faith in front of me in such a way that challenges me and inspires me to fall more in love with Jesus.
I'm sad that we're not together for Mother's Day, but am so thankful that we spent all last week together. You are a rich, RICH blessing in my life, Mom. I actually shudder to think who/what I might be had I not lived under your influence and your love.
Proverbs 31:30
".... a woman who fears {respects/honors} the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."