The powerful influence Of A Mother

I don’t know how old I was in this picture. I don’t even remember the event-it was a family gathering at my grandparent’s house, I’m guessing a Birthday party. All I know is that from the time I was a teenager up to this point, this has to be my favorite picture of me with my mom. It sums up my relationship with my mom that I always cherished.

She treasured me.

She protected me.

She sheltered me from so many rocky storms in life, and so many wrong influences.

Her arms were always open for hugs, and even after I was married and had children I snuggled up close to her, needing that love and secure feeling that only a loving mother can give.

My mother was an anchor for me in life. A security when things didn’t feel secure. A giver of truth. She molded me carefully into who I am today, always trying with all her energy to give me her best.

Oh yes she failed, but I heard the “I’m sorry” come from her lips. I saw the tears flow from her eyes.

I’ll never forget the day I walked into her house and knew something was seriously wrong. It was the beginning of the end, as the Lupus had started going into her brain. I prayed fervently that God would allow me to be with her as she took her final breath. I was the only one in the room as  her chest slowly rose and fell with that last breath. I laid next to her as we waited for my brother to arrive, feeling the coldness come into her before her body was taken away. I wondered at the joy she was experiencing while we were still crying over her body still with us on this earth.

It took several months before I felt like I was starting to heal from her death. Tears still flow frequently, the pain has eased but it will never go away. Without my mother’s guiding hand I do not know where I would be in life. 

So I ask of you mother – are you striving to be this sort of person in your child’s life? Are you willing to give up everything to pour yourself into your children? I do not mean to sacrifice of yourself so you can work crazy hours providing them with the best daycare possible, the best clothing from popular brands, the latest toys and the finest school. I had none of these things. We were not rich in material possessions, I wore clothes from garage sales, and I was homeschooled from K-12 without the expensive complete pre-packaged curriculum on the market.

But I had a mother who loved me.

That is what your children need. Today please stop and consider that tomorrow your children will be grown. They need you – all of you. They need you in the morning to read words of scripture to them. They need you in the afternoon to read storybooks to them. They need you in the evening to sing hymns with them before bed.

Oh mother, please take my hand and walk this life with me. A life of pain and pleasure, of weariness and joy. It is worth it all, to raise up children who will one day stop and thank you for all you did.

I never went back to my mom (or my dad) and complained about the lack of fancy clothes or huge house or expensive toys. I did thank her on her death bed for all she gave up for me. That she loved me so much she put me first above her own pleasures.

This is my goal. I stumble and fall every day. But by God’s grace and strength I will keep striving.

I will love my children.

I will give to my children all I can.

I will lead my children to Christ.