Today I went to a funeral. Such a sad time for the family, who will miss this precious mom so much! The blessing in it all, is that she lived a wonderful, full, loving, giving, passionate, purposeful life!
Each of her three daughters wrote a tribute, and the husband of the oldest daughter read them. This mom was so loved and cherished.
The memories that the daughters held dear were ones where the mom gave of herself---taught a valuable life lesson, or just lived her life as an example before her daughters, and that made an impression on her girls that impacted their entire lives.
One daughter spoke of how she wanted a marriage like her mom and dad's. She said that her mom taught her about following her husband, and being his partner no matter where that lead. She spoke of how her mom taught her to fry some onions if he came home from work, and she had no idea what to make for dinner....the smell would make him believe something delicious was soon to be ready! She was loving, creative, and purposeful.
This precious woman loved the Lord, and made sure that each of her children had every opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Her kids saw a mom who lived what she believed. It was important to her that God's plan of salvation was shared at her funeral......
Funerals often cause me to ask myself:
What will be said of me when I am gone?
Thankfully, God is not finished with me yet, and he promises to complete what he started in me!
This precious time of tribute to my friend's mom, gave me cause to examine what kind of wife, mom, and grandma I am.
From the time I was a very young girl, I couldn't wait to be a mommy! I probably played with dolls longer than many girls my age, and started working in the church nursery as soon as they would let me! I babysat every chance I could get from the time I was 12. From a very early age, my dreams and goals were "set".
We got married at age 20. As much as I loved being married, and loved my husband, I wanted a family with him. I wanted us to be parents! Though my parents were surprised and concerned that I got pregnant after only 7 months of marriage......I was thrilled! I didn't finish nursing school, which was the reason for my parent's concern, but my dreams were realized! I married the man of my dreams, and had a child of my own!
Not only a precious son, but MY precious son! He called me "mommy"! Then, within 3 1/2 years, I had three children. I couldn't have been happier.
The road has definitely not been smooth. Parenting reveals the flaws! I had a lot of issues with impatience. I expected my children to care about doing things the way I wanted them to. My husband worked nights for the first 9 years of our kids lives, and evenings were exhausting and lonely.
We made sacrifices.....I never held a full-time job away from home when I had kids. I've been a certified nursing assistant and medication aide. I have cleaned houses and done ironing. I sold Crystal with a "party plan". I watched other people's children. I worked in a coffee shop.
But my family, and my marriage were the priority commitment. We chose to live with cars that usually had bondo on them somewhere! We chose simple vacations, and everything fun we did, I called "vacation". Our kids thought we went on lots of vacations!
We decided to do some homeschooling, and some private schooling through the kids growing up years. I learned more than the kids did.
When I talk to my kids, who are now adults, we remember many fun times together, times of learning, and the things that I wish I would have handled differently, are not a big deal to them. Since my daughter's are now mothers, they see life through different eyes.
A neighbor once told me that as she held her newborn son for the first time, she called her mom in tears and thanked her for loving her.....she said she never realized how much a mother loves her child until that very moment when she was holding her own child in her arms.
How true those words are.
Each day is a gift....it isn't promised.
Each relationship God gives you opportunity to have, has a purpose....pour the best you have to give into those relationships. Memories will be made.
Don't be afraid to apologize and ask forgiveness. It keeps you humble, and as Beth Moore says, "If you don't humble yourself, God will have to do it for you!".
Each day you live is a chance for a "do-over"!
And we can be thankful in this.
Pam
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