This weekend the world comes together to celebrate one of God’s most wonderful creations, Mothers. Women teach us so many things in life, but the most important is love. I can remember as a child being in complete awe every time I looked at my mother. There were plenty of times I was unhappy with her, but I never thought I could live without her. Fortunately I still have her in my life today and to be as close to forty years old as I am, it is a blessing to still have her healthy and active and there when I need her. We may not always see eye to eye on things, but she will always be my safety net, my biggest fan, and my strongest ally.
In my life, I have been touched by so many women in wonderful mother-figure roles. My Mom had two sisters, Emily and Myrtle who played such an important role in my raising. In our family, we sort of all just belonged to each other and it was okay for them to love me, cuddle me, spank me, whatever need be. To this day, I can still turn to these women for anything. They are a blessing from God. I also had wonderful aunts on my Dad’s side of the family who spoiled me and did everything they could to make me feel special and talented. Affectionately I called my Aunt Sylvia, Wormy. It was a nickname given to her by her husband because she was so tiny. I was probably 12 years old when I learned that wasn’t exactly her real name. My Dad’s twin sisters, Irma and Barbara were so loving and beautiful. They were both successful in their careers and are still working in their 70s today and proving that women are strong and enduring.
So many of my friends who are women are incredible examples of just how a mother should be. Just a couple of weeks ago at church I was sitting behind the Brown family and I was looking at how Mason, one of my former Sunday School students was staring at his mother. He was looking at Gina with such admiration and love. It reminded me of a post she placed on Facebook one day about how she blew him a kiss on his way to the bus and he reached back and caught it. The relationship that mothers have with their children is certainly a gift from God and meant to be cherished. Mother’s know everything about us even before we know it ourselves. Most mothers love unconditionally and without limitations. One of my best friends’ Kim McFall has two sons. They are the light of her life. When she talks about them you can see how her entire life revolves around those two boys. It’s uplifting that our Father has given us such love and examples in this life. A mother’s love is like a symbol of eternity and a glimpse into what we have to look forward to in Heaven. My oldest and dearest friend from school, Sherry Johnson Morgan has a young son named DJ. He may very well be the luckiest young man alive. Not because he is materially spoiled, but because he is adored and cherished by his mother and because she is determined to love him as God intended for her to. Aimee Allen-Kirk swears she was placed on this earth simply to mother Aubrey. Another friend Michelle, from Seattle spent most of her life as a single Mom and struggled to provide the best possible life for her two children. She often tells me that she thinks they may never grow up, they are both in their twenties and still depending on her so much, but she sees that as her role to be there as long as needed. I guess we never outgrow the need for our mothers. As a grown man, I am drawn to special loving women in my church family. My sisters in Christ, Nell McElroy and Jean Chappell have practically adopted me and I will take all the motherly love I can get. In a world where there is so much stress and turmoil, to have the gentle comfort of a God-fearing woman in your corner is so reassuring.
When my Mom and biological father divorced, we were left poor and alone in a small four room mobile home. My Mom was strong willed and determined to provide the best she could. She worked in horrible conditions in cotton mills, etc. to make sure that I had everything I needed. God blessed her with a second husband and me with a wonderful stepfather who changed our lives. Even if he had not come along, I know that she wouldn’t have given up the hard fight she was fighting to make a good life for us.
My Mom and her sisters had perhaps the best example of a mother in Bertie Mae Cochran. My beloved “Granny” as we affectionately called her was most certainly our grandmother, but she interacted in my siblings and cousin’s lives as if she were the direct parent. She was the best example of unconditional Christian love that I have ever known. I know this mother’s day many of you will be suffering as you miss your mothers, grandmothers, and other female figures in your lives who have gone on to be with Jesus. I miss holding my Granny as well. I miss the smell of her skin and hair and the sound of her voice. The most important thing to remember is that God gave us mothers to teach us how to love and to appreciate that emotion. He has promised us Heaven, so there will be no more tears or sorrow and we will know the reward of being reunited with these amazing women who shaped our lives. Absence makes the heart grow stronger, and our hearts will certainly be filled with love and joy when we know that glorious reunion with the saints.
I commend the women of this world who serve as mothers to so many and who give of themselves selflessly so that we might all prosper in faith, happiness, and love. The rose is one of the most beautiful flowers we will ever lay our eyes on. A mother is like the prettiest rose in bloom. You just want to look at it, hold it, take it in, and treasure it forever. God bless women and mothers everywhere. To all of you, Happy Mother’s Day and may you always be happy, healthy and in full bloom.
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