My mama....

In light of celebrating Mother’s Day this past weekend, I have been thinking about mine.  I was blessed with the most caring, giving, strongest mother a girl could ever ask for.  Sure, she is soft spoken and doesn’t like to tell grandkids ‘no’, but looking back over my childhood, I have grown to understand that strength comes in many forms.   

My dad was killed in a tragic boating accident 15 years ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long!).  If you knew my dad, you know that he had a very strong personality.  He could be loud and boisterous and was very confident in his opinions.  These are not necessarily negatives; I’m just trying to paint a picture for you.  I loved my dad dearly and never doubted for a second that he adored me.  He was a very hard worker and never understood the whole idea of entitlement that we see so frequently today. 

Growing up, I always saw him as the strong one.  My mom and dad’s personalities were polar opposite.  She too, was an extremely hard worker, but her tone was always soft, and I think that is often misunderstood for weakness.   

After my dad died, I think many people expected her to fall to pieces.  She never did!  Don’t get me wrong….she was sad and missed him terribly.   But, she did as she always did.  She picked up the pieces, she took care of the things that needed taken care of, and she supported everyone else as they struggled through a very difficult time.  She never made excuses, she never wallowed in pity.  She just kept going.   

It was at this time that I realized just how strong she was.  I was then able to look back over the years and see her quiet strength holding things together and moving things forward.  Though the rest of us would have little fits when things didn’t go our way, I don’t ever remember her giving in to the frustrations or irritations of raising 3 kids and giving it her all. She is amazing.  She is an amazing mom and an amazing grandmother.  My kids are blessed to have her…and they know it! 

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~I Corinthians 13:4-7

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me so abundantly through my mother.  I am so thankful that I have had the privilege of being her daughter.  She has set an incredible example to follow.  She loves with all that she is, and I couldn’t have chosen better had I had a choice.