I’ve spent much of my reflecting in these blogs on my personal issues, the lessons I learn from my kiddos, and memories of my dad who passed away over 25 years ago now.  Focusing on my problems is easy – I’ve got plenty.  And who doesn’t love reflecting on their kiddos – it’s easy.  With the influence of my dad – that’s an easy target to write about as well.  But it’s tougher to write about somebody who’s right there in the trenches with you – and has been since you were in diapers…and before.

I’m talking, of course, about my mother.

It’s easy to write something on Mother’s Day – everybody remembers them on Mother’s Day.  But for 364 of the other days of the year, my mom goes quietly about her way making sure everything is fine in the world she cares about.  And besides the obvious biology lesson, I wouldn’t be where I am without her.

Right this minute, she’s in carpool line covering take-home duty that I would otherwise have to take time from work to do myself.  I guess I chose this time of day to write it so she’d not have anything emotional to mess with til she gets home later today.

My mom has been through tons – her whole life.  I may only identify with the last 46 years of it – but the stories I heard of her picking cotton in the fields as a child til her fingers bled, and seeing a family down the road completely decimated by a tornado when she was a child, and every story she’s cared to share since then, make me realize I have the love of the most special lady God could’ve ever chosen for me.

That cotton-picking story…always reminded me of Proverbs 31:17-19.  I see so much publicity given in social media to being a “Proverbs 31 woman”, and so many folks striving to do it – but mom…she did it…and she does it every day.  To this day she can still sew – although she does it less than I remember as a child…when patterns from the fabric store draped our dining room table every weekend.  She’d cut, and sew, (and cuss a little in the process – ok, so maybe not FULLY Proverbs 31), and cut and sew some more, until she’d made the prettiest clothes for whomever it was she was making it for (I think usually my sister).  And Proverbs 31:24 always reminded me of Mom when I’d read it, too.

Mom’s not perfect.  None of us mortals are, anyway.  She worries too much and even though she knows she shouldn’t, she does anyway.  No one…and I mean NO ONE questions Mom’s loyalty, and Mom’s love for her kiddos, grand-kiddos, and now, great grand-kiddos.

Mom’s dealt with loneliness far more than I hope I ever have to.  And yet she’s done so with strength and grace…and some great friends she’s made along the way.   Some of these folks are lifelong friends, and some she’s just become acquainted with in recent years.

Proverbs 31:30 (Amplified version) says:

“Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!  Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!”

Mom, I’ve never thought your charm and grace were deceptive, but very sincere.  And I still think you’re the most beautiful lady I know.  You should be praised, every day, by all of us who know you…and especially by me.

Thank you so much for all you do…I could never begin to repay you for any of it.

For a guy good with words, I find myself limited when I tell you just how much I love you.  I’m glad God picked you to be my mom…and glad He picked me to be your son.

I love you!

-Tim