Honoring and Cherishing our Mothers
Mothers should be honored and cherished throughout the year, but Mother’s Day provides a tangible opportunity for us to express our love, and pay tribute to the special women in our lives. For those fortunate enough to grow up with or near extended family, the opportunity to have grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and aunts, is a special bonus that adds to the rich variety of women speaking into your life.
Even for those who have pain from broken relationships with their mothers, there is still room (and a biblical mandate) to honor them. If you need healing in this area, I highly recommend looking into recourses, both written and audio, from Family Life on the topic of “The forgotten commandment.” You can see an introductory article here: http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/life-issues/relationships/honoring-your-parents/the-best-gift-you-can-give-your-parents
I wanted to take a moment to honor the special women in my life. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it will at least “scratch the surface” of the lives and legacy they each leave.
This is a photo of my great-grandmother and grandmother, walking arm in arm down what we believe to be Central Avenue in Albuquerque. My great-grandmother moved to Albuquerque as a teen, and lived a simple (but profoundly important) life as a wife and mother, pouring into her two daughters. I’m fairly confident that she made the dresses that they are wearing. While I don’t have many memories of her, my “Nanny” was a woman who loved her family, and wanted the best for them. It was her influence upon my grandmother that went on to impact me.
This is a photo of my grandmother (Oma), taken on January 7th—the date of our birthdays. I was the first grandchild, born on her 54th birthday. I remember asking her on the day when I turned 6 and she turned 60, “Oma, next year when I turn 7, will you be 70?” She laughed and replied, “Gosh, I hope not! That’s not my kind of math.”
Oma is now 92 and hasn’t spoken in quite some time. Dementia has robbed her of the ability to communicate, but her eyes tell me she still sees much.
Oma was always a woman of faith. Prayer, Bible reading, lessons and stories were always part of the time I spent with her. The humble, yet powerful force that raised 4 children, and numerous grandchildren, will be missed when her time on earth is through. However, I will rejoice knowing that her mind and body will be restored, and I know she will eagerly wait for the reunion of her extended family inside of Heaven’s gates.
My mother (left) is an outstanding woman. Leaving her home country of Germany, after marrying an American soldier, was an act of unimaginable bravery. It took me too many years to appreciate all that she had given up in order to marry a man who lived in New Mexico.
She worked tirelessly to learn English, become re-certified as an American nurse and to provide for our family. Her dedication to ensure we never had to experience poverty was something that I didn’t understand as a child. Now, with the wisdom of hindsight, I see her as one of the most remarkable women I know.
My mother-in-law (right) is also a woman of great courage and character. Moving from Bolivia as a pre-teen, she had to experience the journey of maturing into adulthood, far from her native country. A woman fiercely loyal to her husband, children and grandchildren, “Nonny” provides meals, prayer and sanctuary for all of us.
With two daughters of my own, I extended the long line of women coming from our family tree. Through the lessons I’ve learned from past generations, coupled with wisdom and council from Scripture and Godly influences, I pray that my role as mother to my girls will have lasting impact on their lives. Being a mother is one of the most difficult but important jobs on the earth. I say that with no exaggeration. Teaching the next generation to honor God, and live lives focused on Christ, can transform families, communities and nations.
Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow mothers out there. If you are fortunate to still have your mother or grandmother, take some time to honor them privately, and if appropriate, publicly. May God continue to use mothers to impact generations with His truth and love.