Thursday, June 3, 2010

Memories of Mom

My mother died one year ago today. I miss her. I know that she is in the presence of the Lord, awaiting my arrival, but I miss her presence here.



A few years ago my mother asked me how I was going to remember her. I didn't have a good answer at the time, but I thought about it a lot. One thing that I will remember most is her hands. They were gentle, compassionate, and productive. I can see her now preparing sandwiches for a tea, stitching a quilt, sewing beautiful clothes for my sister and me, and holding and rocking my younger brother when he was sick with asthma. When I called my mother's friend (our minister's wife from 45 years ago) to tell her mother had died, she told me that she still had some things that my mother had made for her and how pecious they were to her. Mother spent a lifetime caring for others. She opened her heart and her hands to those in need.



I will remember my mother's voice. She often told the story about the teacher that told her, "Wanda, just dance, don't sing." From that time on my mother was reluctant to sing when anyone could hear her, but she chose to "make melody in her heart." However, she sang to her children and I can't hear or sing the song, "When He Cometh" without thinking of my mother. And I can hear her singing it in my daughter's ear as she rocked her to sleep.



And lastly, I will remember her "momisms." "You have to suffer to be beautiful." "Beauty is as beauty does." "If you stick that lip out much farther a rooster will perch on it." (I was a pouter!) In recent years we heard some things over and over and over again, like: "Growing old isn't for sissies." "The only thing that runs anymore is my nose." "What is today?"



But the words I will remember most because of the frequency with which she quoted them are found in Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when it is come about, it is as a tree of life." The New Living Translation says it this way: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." I don't know why my mother quoted that verse so much, but I do know that in my own life I have needed the hope and the promise of it. And I thank God that mother passed it on to me.



My mother wasn't perfect: she was a flawed child of God, but my brothers and sister and I were blessed to have a "truly good woman" for a mother!



I miss you, Mom!

8 comments:

  1. What a wonderful, moving tribute to your mother. You were blessed to have had her as a mother and she was blessed to have YOU.

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  2. Your mother is smiling down at you right now. Her heart leapt for joy when you wrote this! Peace.

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  3. what an awesome tribute. I want my girls to feel that way about me where I'm not here anymore. Have a great weekend.

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  4. Your post touched my heart today. I lost my mother last September and at times the wound is still tender. Maybe in heaven they know each other and look down on us with a big smile on their faces.

    Blessings,
    Linda J

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  5. Those memories will keep your mother alive in you. Although you painfully miss her, the fond memories bring a sweet joy that you were honored to have her for your mom. I miss my mom too. God bless.

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  6. What a beautiful tribute to your mom, Jane. It has been over 10 years since I lost my mother, and I miss her so much still. Knowing we'll have all eternity to be together is so comforting. We were both blessed to have such wonderful Christian mothers.
    Thank you for sharing this with us today.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  7. What a bittersweet anniversary, Jane - this tribute is achingly lovely!
    My own mother passed 6 years ago - what I wouldn't give to hear her voice one more time. Thank God, we have been promised eternity ...together again!

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  8. Hi Janie Anne, my sister's name is Jane Anne. We call her by both names. We lost our mom many years ago and we have always missed her since that day. I can totally understand how you feel. My mom was much like yours. Here is one of my mom's quotes.'Pride feels no pain' Ha! I say that often. You are lucky to have wonderful memories of your mom. My memories always give me strength because she had strength in her love of God and all things. If only everyone could be blessed with a role model like our mothers were.

    Thank you for sharing this loving story today.
    Blessings, Jeanne

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