Hi gang;

Well, it’s just past noon on Mother’s Day 2010 and I’ve found peace sitting behind my keyboard to say a few words to all of you.  For those of you who are, or have in the past been mothers, I hope this note resonates especially with you.  As always, welcome to my new friends – yeah, I’m long-winded so save this for later if you need!  😉

One great thing I learned from my dad was that I should treat my lady as if she were a queen.  I guess buried underneath much of that instruction, I took the role as pawn instead of king on many occasions – but that’s been covered and hopefully corrected by now!  What was pretty special, though, is what I saw growing up between my folks.  Dad loved my mom…undoubtedly.  Were things always roses?  Heck no!  But was there ever a doubt?  Nope!

Mom has lived through the passing of two men we all dearly loved.  All 3 of her children have put her through some sort of hell here and there.  I commented to her the other day that I was surprised she was still alive given how much she worries!  Ha!  My mom…hahaha…well, put it this way, my brother and I have this funny little thing we do where we wring our hands over and over and breathe rather rapidly and deeply – a little mimic routine of when Mom gets into worry mode.  It’s a funny family joke – all at the expense of a great mother.  Mom also tends to beat herself up some – something all the family has powerfully challenged over recent years.

Proverbs 31:29-31 says: “‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Hmm…for her reward this morning, Mom helped me move the final items out of my offices…we’re shutting down my office in hopes that going virtual will save us the money we need to stay in business.  A Sunday morning…she skips church to help the son who’s probably worried her the most by far the past few years…on Mother’s Day no less.  In my book, she has earned her reward – she did that decades ago.

When dad passed, I was home nearly every weekend – unless the Aggies were playing a home game.  She thought it was because of a girlfriend at home.  Frankly, mom…I just kinda liked hangin’ out with you and being at the home you had made fit for so many years.

Mom, there’s a song I heard on the way back from the office this morning – and I knew I needed to write this note.  It’s by Jeremy Camp and it’s called Let it Fade.  I hope someday you will be able to live without the worries we all create for you…I hope someday you’ll be able to find rest and take off everything that has loaded you down.  I love you, Mom!  We all do…we always have and we always will.  You’ve got 3 great kids…smart kids…caring kids…as a parent now myself, I’m not sure what more I’d ask for.

Today, I celebrate my mom at the city gate!
Happy Mother’s Day,
Tim

***

Let it Fade by Jeremy Camp

Have you been walking on a surface that’s uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that’s empty?  yeah!
You can’t live this way too long.
There’s more than this, more than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offer be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?
It will be gone, forever gone.
It will be gone, it will be gone

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offer be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let it fade.

Are you carrying the weight too much?  running from the call?
Let it fade, Oh yeah.

You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?