PAIRINGS: A Mother's Secret Hope

Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret hope outlives them all. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

When I see a quote that strikes a chord with me, I jot it down and save it somewhere. I've had that habit for years.. many years! Being the blessed generation that we are, keeping those quotes has gotten much easier as we've embraced what's offered to us through technology. True confessions...

Gifts from My Mother

Life was simple back then... sometimes hard... but simple...

• wearing hand-me-down clothes from my sister & older girls at church
• buying a Brownie Girl Scout manual & an unused badge at the thrift store instead of paying the monthly dues to actually BE a Brownie
• collecting shiny rocks from the creek bed or abandoned broken charms found in the dust to hide in a small wooden box - to be gazed upon later with wonder
• being the first to church (unlock doors, turn on lights, fold bulletins)
• sitting on the front row with Mom & sisters in clear view of the Pastor - my father!
• being the last at church (clean up, turn off lights, lock doors)
• eating a Sunday meal mainly consisting of the contents in a bag a parishioner had left on the back porch while we were still cleaning up & closing the church

Easter brought a new dress - carefully hand-made by my mom & usually from a bolt of fabric which had been clearanced due to age or "ugly".  The white hat, gloves & shoes were usually from my older sister but, were always clean & looking new for the special day. Family pictures were an important part of the day -- at least catching one or two shots of our "loveliness" :)

Birthday & Christmas gifts consisted of new socks or a new book bag or a gently used winter coat and always brought screams of glee.  A Warner Sallman nightlight purchased at a church convention when I was 3 kept me company in the nights & followed me to the home where I rocked my two little ones.  And, it was several years before I realized that other kids actually got to make a "wish list" for holidays.  My mom had been raised the child of a missionary & minister.  She knew the value of something being needed & useful.  
Mom had a jar on the windowsill by the sink where spare change was saved for missions.  I was naive enough to think that my grandparents (career missionaries to Egypt but in Trinidad at the time) got the actual money I put in the jar.  Each Christmas we walked down the aisle & laid our gift in the manger with all the other Christ Birthday Offerings.

Mom was completely in love with & supportive of my father who set an alarm and woke in the wee hours of the night to read God's Word to prepare for the coming day... and the coming sermons or classes.  He would usually sleep for 30 minutes or so as mom prepared breakfast for our family.  Dad taught a "Pastor's Class" each spring for the 5th & 6th graders. As a young child I listened from outside his study window perched on the shed's roof which leaned against the house -- until I was old enough to actually attend. Mom let me ride along with him for revivals during the summers & gave me hand-made notebooks to take notes of what he said.

Mom was no stranger to tragedy.  Major sacrifice was the only way for her family to make ends meet as they served God abroad & in the states.  A period of time with a "trusted" caregiver ended abruptly and was covered with a cloud of not knowing. It was a different day then & certain things were not faced head on or spoken of. In her teen years, she cared for her mother battling an illness which kept her in bed.  Time with friends was replaced by cooking meals, cleaning house, bathing & caring for her mother.  The early death of her mother brought much uncertainty for the future.

Mom traveled life with bowed head & on bended knee. It was the only way she could go on. It's really the best way for ANY of us to face life.  Her battle to connect with others, after such losses as a young person, was a constant struggle.  Yet, she did her best to make our house a home.  She modeled a truly broken person who got every ounce of strength from somewhere other than herself.  She gave credit to God for every good thing.  She sacrificed for the good of others.  She covered us in prayer trusting that God would give us what she couldn't.

The "gifts" I received from my mom weren't always recognized as gifts.  Many probably wouldn't have been seen as gifts to the world.  And, sometimes, they felt like curses. But, in the hands of God, the lessons I learned through my mom have become wonderful life giving gifts to me.  I intend to pass many of those gifts on to my children.

"God has given each of (us) a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.

Use them well to serve one another."

1 Peter 4:10

Special thanks to Ann Voskamp for getting me to think about the many gifts which God has lovingly placed in my life through the life of my mother!  

"Houses may be bought, built, or borrowed.

But homes can only be made.

And only with bits of ourselves."

Ann Voskamp

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

  

Before I Was A Mom...

This is for all the women out there who have adopted children (legally or IN THEIR HEARTS), the women who have balanced careers and/or stepped aside from them to make a difference in the lives of children, the women who've been the mom to kids who don't have the support of their own family, etc. With truly giving ourselves to others, comes inner joy -- yet, often, confusion, turmoil & heartbreak. Regardless, I believe that God created women with a heart that yearns to GIVE. In giving of ourselves (especially to children & young people), we bring honor to our Maker.

The following e-devotional from HomeWord Center for Youth & Families was in my InBox this morning:


"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27-28


BEFORE I WAS A MOM...
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.


Before I was a Mom...
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.


Before I was a Mom...
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Spit on.
Chewed on.
Pottied on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.


Before I was a Mom...
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.


Before I was a Mom...
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Before I was a Mom...
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much love or so much pain before I was a Mom.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.


— Author unknown.

MOMS (of all kinds), I count it an honor to share this calling with you. May we lift each other in prayer. May we go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of those around us - children, fellow parents & each other. May we look for ways to encourage each other in the dark times & celebrate with each other in the times of joy. May we extend grace & mercy in the challenging times yet, not hesitate to speak truth to each other in even the toughest times. May we seek HIS will & trust in Him for our daily strength & guidance.


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to every women out there who is a mom (by childbirth or by giving your heart)!