Remembering Mother

"Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older, he will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6 (TLB)

Now that Mother's Day is over and I have read on Facebook all the wonderful tributes to Mothers, including those from my daughters, I thought back to the memories of my own beautiful mother.
I was an only child and my mother was an older mother, giving birth to me at age 34. Now, with women waiting much longer to start a family, it's not a big deal. However, back then,... my mother was considered an "older mother" and I was a bit ashamed when I was in school because she could have been thought of as my grandmother rather than my mother. As I matured, I got over that and was thankful for the wisdom she brought into my life.

One of the best memories I have of my mother from the time I was small until she passed at almost 95, was seeing her reading her bible. As a teenager, when setting the table before a meal, I would often have to move my mother's open bible because she had been setting at the table reading it. As she aged and lived alone, often I would slip quietly into her kitchen to check on her. She had a rocking chair setting beside the kitchen table and many times she would be asleep in the chair, her glasses slipped down on her nose and her bible open in her lap. I remember after one of her surgeries, someone went by the hospital to encourage her. They found her setting up in bed reading her bible and came away saying she had encouraged them.

I wish I had been more like my mother when raising our two daughters. Oh, they saw me reading my bible because, like any good Southern Baptist, we must read our daily bible readings found in the Broadman materials our church supplied, along with the daily devotional materials called Open Windows. They saw me open my bible as they sat beside their dad and me in church every Sunday. And, they probably remember that I read them bible stories when they were small. But, I never was as devoted to God's Word as was my mother and I regret that now.

Those of you who have a godly mother, be thankful. Those of you who are mothers with children at home, set an example for them not by just reading your bible out of obligation but because you want to learn more about the love your Heavenly Father has for His children.

"But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. "Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT