Tell Mama I’ll Be There

That’s the title of an old (1898) country song that I remember hearing my mama sing about her mama. And, that’s the song I sing about my mama. I'll be there, Mama!

“Tell mother I’ll be there, in answer to her prayer;
This message, blessed Savior, to her bear!
Tell mother I’ll be there, Heaven’s joys with her to share;
Yes, tell my darling mother I’ll be there."

I’m thinking about my darling mother today on her birthday (she’d be 108). Oh, what a precious mama she was to me. Everything I am, and hope to be, I owe to her example, her love, her abiding faith in God during some of life’s toughest times. She had unwavering love for my dad, my siblings and me. Mostly, it was the peace she exuded regardless of the pressures of life. If God were giving a motherhood test, she would have passed it with flying colors.

Honestly, the best of me came from her. If ever there was an angel on earth, it was her. She was my mentor, role model and everything a mother should be. She selflessly gave -- "Just give me the fried chicken neck -- that's good enough for me." She always forgave -- "It's okay. God forgives me all the time. I sure can forgive you." She unconditionally loved -- "It's okay that I don't hear much from your siblings (they lived in other states). I love and pray for them anyway." Her integrity and honesty were of the utmost importance to her. I'll never forget the day as a tiny tot that I saw a package of gum on the floor in the store and put it in my pocket. I reasoned that "if it's on the floor, it's okay to have it". When she found it in my pocket, she took me back to the store and I had to admit my wrong-doing. That incident and lesson stuck with me like glue. She gave me boundaries that worked -- "Let your conscience be your guide." And those words always rang in my ears when I was choosing right or wrong. She never missed a church service -- Wednesday night, Friday prayer meeting, women's meetings, Sunday School AND church -- twice each Sunday. She sacrificed her own personal needs for my needs. She showed me undaunted faith and determination in the toughest of times when my Daddy was so sick and when our finances were so meager. I heard her praying for me and my siblings from her bedroom. She was unquestionably the most tender, kind-hearted, loving, gentle, caring and pure woman I have ever known. She was my hero, and to this day, she remains my hero. Her example made me a better me.

The reason why I'm emphasizing her today to impress upon us to realize -- it's not the places we go or the things or treasures or inheritance or life insurance or jewelry -- the tangible things that make us. What makes us, and the legacy we leave to our children, are the things that money could never buy. Her influence on me caused me to be honest, to love and care passionately, to put my faith in God during the best and worst of times, to give and to suck it up when I've been hurt or offended, to trust in God's plans for my life and to leave my family with something so much more than the things that can be bought. I intend to leave them the very best of me......and the very best of me is my precious mother's example. What are those things that you'll leave to your children and grandchildren?
"Her children rise up, and call her blessed...." Proverbs 31:28
Happy Birthday, Mama! You can count on it! I’ll meet you over there!

Her Children Rise Up and Call Her Blessed

Happy Birthday to my sweet angel Mom -- she'd be 105 today. I ran past these photos of my her with her Great Granddaughter, my Alexia Wallace (14 years ago). I loved the "before" and "after" of Alexia getting hold of that bottle. LOL!

I treasure photos like this because it reminds me of where the best of me came from. If ever there was an angel on earth, it was my Mom. She was my mentor, role model and everything a mother should be. She selflessly gave -- "Just give me the fried chicken neck -- that's good enough for me." She always forgave -- "It's okay. God forgives me all the time. I sure can forgive you." She unconditionally loved -- "It's okay that they (my siblings that lived in other states) don't write or call me much. I love and pray for them anyway." Her integrity and honesty were of the utmost importance to her. At 5 years old, I'll never forget the day I saw a candy bar on the floor in the grocery store and put it in my pocket. I reasoned that "if it's on the floor, it's okay to have it". When she found it in my pocket, she took me back to the store and I had to admit my wrong-doing. That incident and lesson stuck with me like glue.

She gave me boundaries that worked -- "Let your conscience be your guide." And those words always rang in my ears when I was choosing between right or wrong. She never missed a church service -- Wednesday night, Friday prayer meeting, women's meetings, Sunday School AND church -- twice each Sunday. She sacrificed her own personal needs for my needs. She showed me undaunted faith and determination in the toughest of times when my Daddy was so sick and when our finances were so meager. I heard her praying for me and my siblings from her bedroom. She was unquestionably the most tender, kind-hearted, loving, gentle, caring and pure woman I have ever known. She was my hero, and to this day, she remains my hero. Her example made me a better me.

The reason why I'm giving this tribute to her today, is for you and me to realize -- it's not the things or treasures or inheritance or life insurance or jewelry -- the tangible things that make us. What makes us, and the legacy we leave to our children, are the things that money could never buy. Her influence on me caused me to be honest, to love and care passionately, to put my faith in God during the best and worst of times, to give and to suck it up when I've been hurt or offended, to trust in God's plans for my life and to leave my family with something so much more than the things that can be bought. I intend to leave them the very best of me......and the very best of me is my precious mother's example. What are those things that you'll leave to your children and grandchildren? "Her children rise up, and call her blessed...." Proverbs 31:28

If You Can't Say Something Nice -- Say Nothing At All

Day 147 of Photo Inspirations – “If You Can’t Say Something Nice….Say Nothing At All”

Those were words I heard over and over again from my sweet Mama. Those times when I would grumble about the rain and not being able to go out and play; when I would say something ugly about someone; when I would speak negatively about myself – like, “I’m so skinny (I know it’s hard to believe that, but there was a time when I took “Weight ON” pills).” LOL!

When Mama spoke, I listened because if anyone had a reason to complain or speak negatively, she did....but didn't. When I was 8, my Daddy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and subsequently survived brain surgery. He was never the same after that. He became more like a sibling to me than my Daddy. Mom had to work so hard to take care of him and I because Daddy had no health or pension benefits. I remember her taking her wedding ring to the Pawn Shop and selling it to get a few dollars for us. My Dad passed away 7 years later. She never grew bitter, never was depressed or angry. She never complained. She was always giving (oh how she stretched her social security check). She never knew wealth in this world’s measure. But, I assure you – I have never known a happier, more contented, full of life, joyful and RICH woman as my Mama. She walked and talked like every day was full of sunshine – in the weather…..and in her circumstances. I still hear her singing “This is my story. This is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” She taught me best by her living. These scriptures best describe the way she lived:

Psalms 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD…”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things.”

I know that the best of me came from this precious woman and, in this message today, I hope you receive this “best of me” to you – that you will understand the riches of being a PRAISER rather than a COMPLAINER. I get that there are plenty of things TO complain about – we all face some significant struggles and the future could look pretty bleak at times, but I assure you that finding the good, and ONLY speaking the kind, generous, loving, faith-filled and caring words, you’ll find SUNSHINE on a cloudy day…..when it’s cold outside, you’ll find the month of May. I’m talking about my God, my God. So, in my Mama’s words…..”If you can’t say something nice…..say nothing at all!”