Honor Thy Mother

How do I put into words all the things I feel today?  Out of town family has departed, the formalities of receiving guests and the service have been accomplished, and the rest of the world goes on without hesitation.  This happens daily and how oblivious we are to it!

And Texture Tuesday is here...and my focus is honoring my mother.  I took this photo last night...cloudy sky, perfectly diffused light. This is the spray that was on her coffin and laid on her grave where she was laid to rest.

It was a perfect day...in the 70s...sun and blue sky.  It was if the world was happy that she was now free of her 14-year trial of sustaining the curse of Alzheimer's dementia.  Our sorrow was for ourselves...she was free, in perfect bliss, enjoying being at her Savior's side, experiencing something our human minds cannot comprehend.

Born in West Virginia (surprise!), living through the Great Depression and attending high school while our country was entrenched in a World War, she knew life was not perfect.  Her idolized older brother, Dale, was killed when she was only 12 in a car accident as he was driving back to Morgantown after working all Wednesday night, wanting to be with his family for Thanksgiving Day.  He fell asleep behind the wheel.  She knew the heartbreak of a father who compulsively gambled the paycheck away.  She knew what it meant to do without, making something from nothing, and to never take anything for granted.

My mother (on the right) experienced joy.  She knew the joy of having good friends and family close by...always welcoming those who came by for endless chats on the porch swing or at the kitchen table.

Her greatest joy was when she found Christ as her Savior at the age of 16, as the result of her mother's influence.  She loved and served Him the rest of her life.

And that same Savior led her to a man, my father, who also loved Jesus, who would become the love of her life.

She was a creative lady...sewing all our clothes, quilting, crafting, and always praising her Savior in music.

She was an incredible Grandma to my chidren; my stronghold through the roller coaster experience of having a child with a severe developmental disability.  I would have been lost without her.

She was always by my side...even if we weren't together.  Her love endured through my rebellious years...and she held her boundaries.  Her influence led me to Christ, as well.

Her dearest friend was Mary...they were such partners in crime...look at the guilty look on their faces!  They were always up to something.

My mother got her feist and acid wit honestly from her mother's side of the family...a true Null!

My mother, just like my father, was imperfect, sometimes exercised flawed judgment, and failed, at times... She was human...like the rest of us.

But she loved the Lord with all her heart, mind, and soul...

She was not allured by the idols of our culture...

And she spent her life worshiping and rejoicing in the love and grace of her Lord.

I do not know what heaven is like...  I believe it is beyond what our finite, human minds can begin to comprehend.  But my mother is there...she is perfect...and...

I would never wish her back, as I will join her some day.  I can only pray that I leave such a legacy behind.

If we could see beyond today

As God can see,

If all the clouds should roll away,

The shadows flee;

O’er present griefs we would not fret, 

Each sorrow we would soon forget,

For many joys are waiting yet

For you and me.