A Time to Give Honor! (May 2021)

Robert, my husband to be, was leaving for Vietnam. He was in the military; and he would be stationed there for one year. He was going to stop in California to visit with his aunt before continuing his journey. He asked me to fly to San Francisco with him. I didn’t have the money; but Robert’s parents and my grandparents said that they would pay my way. I was so excited. I didn’t know if I would ever get another opportunity to travel there; and to be with Robert certainly made my heart happy.

Mother said, “No.” I begged, and I pleaded, but no matter what I said or did, her answer was “No.” I would have pouted, but I knew that even at the age of 20, I wasn’t too big to get my hinder parts disciplined. I was angry for a long time with her. I suppose that I really didn’t understand until my first-born began begging to go and do things with his friends. I think of the many times that I had to hold fast to my convictions in saying “no,” when it would have naturally been easier to say, “Yes, you can go.” I can now look at the California situation and say, “Thank you, Mother, for holding firm your convictions in this situation and many others in not allowing me to have my way.”

I have counseled many broken-hearted girls that begged their parents to go somewhere and their parents reluctantly gave in, only to have something devastating happen to them as a result. Even later, dealing with anger at their parents for having given in to their wishes, and scars that would last a lifetime without the intervention of the Lord.

Sunday, May 9, 2021 has been set aside for honoring Mothers. We refer to it as Mother’s Day. Mother, I want to take this time to convey to you, the best way that I know how, my gratitude for your being such a wonderful mother. You gave birth to me May 2. That couldn’t have been easy since I weighed a big eight pounds. Your mom told me that daddy cried because I wasn’t a boy. I know that this must have hurt you deeply. I know now that the Lord made me who I was and who I am. You have always told me that. You loved me, fought for me, and was for me no matter what. You guided me in the way of the Lord. Proverbs 31:25-26 Amp. says, “Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].”

Mother, you demonstrated the ways of the Lord to me. You believed in correcting me when I was wrong, but you always emphasized to me that God made me special and that He had a good plan for me. You always told me that I was beautiful and that I could do anything that the Lord called me to do. I saw strength in you when I knew that in the natural you had to be trembling when the winds of the adversary would attempt to trip you into despair. This is when I heard you from your bedroom floor crying out to the God, Who causes us to overcome in every situation.

You worked five and half days a week to provide for your family. You had three mouths to feed and clothe, and you never gave up. I can’t imagine how hard that this was for you. You took care of our house, did the yard work, and made sure that your children were taken care of. The Message Bible says in Proverbs 31, “Her clothes are well-made and elegant.” It was only by the hand of the Lord, but you always dressed Teresa and me in frills and lace. We even owned one of those little slips that had the balloon ring to make our dresses stand out. We wore our Patton leather shoes with our socks surrounded with lace. Aw, yes…We wore the white gloves with our Easter hats, too. Mother, you loved clothes and you still do. How could you have so many clothes, shoes, and never run out of food.

First of all, you were committed to the Lord. You were faithful in attending church; reading the Word and praying; you gave your tithes to Him; you won many souls to Him as you evangelized in the inner-city housing; you taught Sunday School classes; and gave to the poor. You have great love for the Lord and a reverential fear of Him. Prov. 31:30 says, “…But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.” “The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear of God” (Message Bible). How many times have I seen you observe a family or someone that came into a restaurant who appeared to be financially struggling and pay for their meal anonymously? I have seen you give clothes and shoes just because you loved with God’s love. You have cooked for others when you really couldn’t afford it. You have mailed monies to my children when they did not have extra while they attended college.

You gave sacrificially. So, what happened? God gave back to you time and time again. You believed, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). No wonder that you have closets full of clothes and shoes. “Many daughters have done nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], But you excel them all” (Prov. 31:29&30). “…Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls” v. 10b. That is who you are, Mother. I rise up this day and call you “blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired)” (v. 28). Thank you for sacrificing for me and for so many others. Any rewards that I may receive from the Lord will also be accredited to you because you invested in me. Thank you, precious Mother. I love you, and I always will.