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The Bible Says
In 1998 I asked each of my four children to express their appreciation for their departed Mother in any way they felt led. From the oldest unto the youngest, this is what they wrote. This article appeared at that time in the WESTERN ITASCA REVIEW. Had the thought occurred to me, they would have tried a second time to express their sincere love for their Mother. Nevertheless, after a lapse of this many years, I am convinced that at least some of our readers will welcome a second copy of their heartfelt appreciation of their darling Mother.
My pain brought her comfort to me, My successes her joy, My failures her sadness. “John, why don’t you…” Advice to be valued a lifetime! “John, why didn’t you…” Counsel with comfort. Mom! A lifetime of pain. A lifetime of prayer for others. A lifetime of kindness. A lifetime of joy! A nation’s greatness -- its mothers A nation’s future -- its mothers A nation’s strength – its mothers A nation’s morality – its mothers. While we strive for excellence - While we prove our individuality - While we acquire better things - Without Mom’s love – all is lost. My Mom loved God and loved me. She listened to the old ways. She shared with her kids. She prayed with me. Open your Bible and your heart. Hug your Child and love him. Pray with him, Praise God, & share - And have a Happy Mother’s Day. And her shyness she had to o’er-come. She made a good wife for my preacher dad And knew how to laugh and have fun. She was a good mother—this mother of mine! She’d take time to listen to me. We’d cry or we’d laugh but always would pray And God’s view she would help me to see. I told her my troubles until she went home. I know that she’s without a care. She had wonderful, marvelous worlds to explore. With Jesus and all who are there. If you were to ask me just what I miss most, I really don’t know what I’d say, I miss her influence, this mother of mine, But we’ll be together some day.
A seed dies, sprouts, a plant grows. It produces fruit and falls to the ground. The seed dies and sprouts. God’s relationship with man is a circle. It begins with God. It ends with God. No circle is easier understood Than one beginning with Mom. I see Mom nurture, love, clothe me. I hear her words of comfort, I feel her arms of love. I see her wipe the tears from my eye. I see the compassion on her face. I fear the warnings, Respect the wisdom, Cherish the forgiveness, Appreciate the advice. I will have succeeded If my mother love, in turn, Shows itself thus to my children, As hers did to me.
As I struggled through life’s trying years. The only thing sure, on which I could rely, Was the faithful dropping of Mama’s tears. My hurts and my bruises were scoffed at and scorned, By the friends that I had at the time, But Mom never questioned the depths of my pain, Her heart simply broke right with mine. As time went by and I grew to a man I sank ever deeper in sin But she never doubted the power of God, Her trust was securely in Him. Finally a day came that brightened her life, I completely surrendered to God. Mom’s heart was thrilled at the turn in my life, Since now on the Narrow I trod. She’s long since gone home to her Savior above - Where she’s young, and she’s strong, and she’s free! One day I’ll see her on Jordan’s far shore, And together forever we’ll be! “Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weight thoughts, nor measure words, but pour them all out together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. This is mother.”
—Selected “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.”
–William Makepeace Trackeray “I think it must somewhere be written, that the virtues of the mothers will be visited on their children as well as the sins of the fathers”---Dickens
set in a frame of shining golden hair, With eyes whose language is fidelity; This is my mother. Is she not most fair?
-May Riley Smith
--Billy Sunday
--Emerson
--William Goldsmith Brown
--Abraham Lincoln |