What Does the Word "Mom" Mean to You?

Sunday, May 10, is Mother's Day, so what does that mean?

When I was younger, it meant trying to be extra nice to my mom, maybe with a corsage that she could wear to church. Or maybe helping clean up after the Sunday noon meal, that she probably willingly still prepared on her special day. Maybe the family piled into the car and went out for ice cream to our little town's custard stand that evening for an ice cream cone or a hot fudge sundae. It varied.

Looking back, I think we should've done way more to show our mom a little more appreciation. She did so much for us, but life was simpler back then and she didn't do all that she did for us to be praised. She...just did it. She loved us and that was her calling in life.

Many of you know that Memories of Home has its roots in my upbringing. My father passed away when I was 12 from Leukemia. I was the youngest of 4 children, which meant my poor mother was left to raise me during my teen years all alone. She never worked outside of the home while she was raising her family, but that needed to change when she became widowed. I remember her filling out applications to a variety of businesses and her success at being hired at a fabric store. She loved to sew, so this was a perfect fit for her. I remember going to visit her at the store after school, so that I could ride home with her after she was finished. I would watch her tidy up, close out the register, and lock up shop. Working in that environment looked like so much fun. It wasn't until just lately that I realized there may have been a connection with seeing her in that little store setting that perhaps made me want to do the same thing someday.

My fondest memory of my mom was her strong faith. Oh, how she loved Jesus! Even when my father was no longer by her side, she would hold on to the fact that she was never alone because Jesus was always with her. Her faith made her so strong. It enabled her to go on, doing things that were way beyond her comfort zone. But she did them and she thrived. How proud I am to have had her as my mom! How proud I am to be her daughter!

So, what does the word "Mom" mean to me? It means there was a wonderful woman in my life who instilled in me that faith in Jesus is the one thing that will get me through any thing and every thing. It means there was a wonderful woman in my life who taught me what is really important in life and I continue to learn from those lessons even after she has gone to her heavenly home. It means there was a special woman who shared Jesus with others by how she lived and that I can hopefully do the same because of her example. I love you, Mom!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY