My Mom's Legacy

                  As we celebrate “Mothers” this week, I wanted to take this opportunity to remember my Mom and celebrate her legacy.

                It’s hard to know where to start.  After all, she wasn’t famous.  She never went to college.  She never worked outside of the home until after my father retired, and she wasn’t rich.  By the world’s standards, she was pretty ordinary.  So, what makes her special?

                Her legacy starts and ends with family and friends.  She was an extrovert and never saw a stranger.  She would take your arm off if you let her, and she loved being with family and friends.  That was probably one of the few areas of contention between her and my “introvert” father.  He would have preferred a quiet evening at home, but she wanted to invite friends in or go visit them, always seeking that personal interaction.   He always went along with her wishes, but she hoped that just once he would initiate the idea.

                Mom and Dad’s marriage was not perfect, as none are, but there is no doubt that they loved each other.  From the first entry in Mom’s diary where she mentions sitting by “Earl” on the bus, she never mentions another boy.  From Dad’s letters to her when he was in the army, it was clear that he longed to be home so they could begin their life together.  They did just that shortly after his return and her graduation from high school, and they remained married for 63 years, until his death.

                Her family was the most important thing in her life, but it wasn’t everything.  She was involved in many activities at church, serving in the women’s circle, helping to lead the youth activities, working in the church library, and being active in her Sunday School class.  Faith was always important to her as her diary entries attest.  She made sure that her kids, and later her grandkids, were brought up in church.  I will always cherish the faith foundation that she gave me.

                In addition to her service at church, she also served as a 4-H Leader, PTA parent, and Little League Mom.  Notice that all her activities revolved around her family, and especially her kids.  She was our encourager, our teacher, our disciplinarian, and our biggest fan.  As I look back, I wonder how she ever found time for the housework, cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc., but somehow, she did. 

                In many ways, my Mom was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman.  She cared for her husband and her family, handling the family finances with wisdom.  She rose early and prepared what each of us needed for the day ahead.  She worked side by side with my father in tending our three acres of land.  She was a hard worker and was always shopping for bargains.  She was compassionate and helped with various projects to aid the sick and needy.  She sewed most of my clothes until I was in high school, and she often made things that could be used around the house, several of which I still have.  She was a woman of strength and dignity and carefully watched everything that went on in our household. 

                Most importantly, she was a woman who loved God and taught her family to do the same.  That is the best legacy any mother can leave.  Praise God for her faithfulness!

                                                                   Proverbs 31: 10 - 31