On
this day, Mother's birth date, I decided to
share some thoughts of Mom with all of
you. This week I have reread all of the
sympathy cards and notes that we received form
ones who knew Mother or us. Many who knew
her over the years, expressed what a great
influence she was in their lives. Some had
sent us money to use in some way to honor her
memory. After much thought and prayer, I
contacted Jean Ratzlaf Johnson. Mom prayed
for her and Sydney all those years while they
were on the mission field, serving in
India. Jean loved receiving letters from
Mom over the years and every time I would see
Jean and Sydney, she would always ask about
Mother, and especially after Mom stopped
writing letters etc.
Jean
shared with me about the persecution of the
Christians in the church in Orissa, India and
the need of funds to feed the refugees. I
sent the money there and got a very
nice email from the pastor. At that
time, they had 30 refugee families that the
church was feeding. I know that Mom would
be pleased to know that the money was used to
help ones there in a great time of need in her
memory.
As her
children we have so much for which to be
thankful. Mom was always there for us at
home when we needed her. She prepared
nutritious meals for us and I often have wondred
how she did it on Dad's income. I never
remember us ever going without a meal or not
having food in the house. Mom kept a neat
and clean house, which had to be no small feat
with six of us growing up in what today would be
considered a small house: one bathroom with
eight of us !! Laundry was a huge task
with no automatic washer and dryer for most of
the years that we were home. I don't
remember her complaining about it either, even
after 10 days of camp meeting with about
everything we owned needing washed.
Remember how the piles of dirty clothes were
heaped all over the basement floor and how we
used the neighbors yard to hang clothes as well
as ours ? Speaking of clothes, remember
how Mom would give some of our clothes
to families who needed clean clothes
? I have often wondered how she did that
with so many of us.
I am
so thankful for being taken to church, hearing
the gospel preached from the earliest of my
memory, for seeing the importance of God's Word
taught and read, and began reading it on my
own. Mother loved God's Word and read it
often. The one great treasure that I have
is my Thompson Chain Reference Bible, which Dad
gave to me years ago with one stipulation, "That
I read it". I told him, "No problem" and
if you saw it today, you would know that is
true. If I heard a tornado or hurricane
was on it's way and we were in the path, the two
things I would grab would be my Bible and my
purse, which I have done down here in Florida a
couple times. Paul can tell you that is
true. As long as I live, I want to have my
Bible with me.
I'm
thankful for the sacrifices that Mom made to see
that we all had the experience of camp
meetings. Those are treasured memories,
along with the Youth Camps. I find it
interesting that our old cottage was taken down
last fall and is no more, about the same time of
Mother's death. I did get a picture of it,
if anyone would like one, I will get copies
made. It had been remodeled and continued
to be used over the years. The floor went
through and the decision was made to tear it
down.
I went
to the Women's Missionary meetings with
Mom. I started going at a very early age
and have continued to have an interest in the
work of missions around the world to this
day. At those meetings I learned who the
missionaries were and about the countries and
needs in them. I would get out of school
and go to the Missions Cnventions with
Mom. I remember many of the missionaries
who came to the Youth Camps and the Camp
Meetings. My interest has continued to
this day, even with all the changes that have
taken place over the years and I attribute it to
Mom and her interest. I remember her
speaking many times at church on a Wednesday
night about a missions
concern.
Then
there was her love of children, teaching them in
Sunday School and Children's Church. Many
of those she taught have crossed my path from
time to time and they all speak so highly of her
and her good teaching. She touched many
lives for God and are serving the Lord today
because of her. They are stars in her
crown, I'm sure.
We all
are so aware of the letters, cards, notes to SO
many over the years and many have expressed how
much they appreciated them. She remembered
so many on their birthdays, anniversries,
etc. If anyone has continued that on like
Mom, it has been you, Wanda. You have been
so good to remember so many also over the
years. Mom was a good teacher for
us. Some learned better than others
!!
I
often think of the years of her life that she
gave in care and concern for both Grandma King
and Grandma Boyer. At a time in their
lives when Mom and Dad could have traveled, gone
to camp meetings, etc. They were tied to the
home in New Castle, but did it willingly and I
know that God honored them for all they did for
their parents.
I so
appreciate how Mom adjusted to all the physical
changes that she had to deal with and living in
an Assisted Living Home. She tried not to
complain and appreciated every little thing that
ones did for her.
I wish
that we, as her children, had had a chance to
share some thoughts like these at her funeral to
honor her memory. I do honor her and her
memory. She loved the Lord with all her
heart and life and shared His love with others
in so many ways. Mother had a good voice
and was able to play the piano. She loved
the hymns and Gospel songs. I can almost
hear her singing those in heaven along with all
the others there and praising her Lord and
Savior. She is free of all that slowed her
down and enjoying the rewards that God has
prepared for her.
Thank
you for allowing me to share these thought with
you. I treasure the memory of Mother, as I
know all of you do. I was thinking: this
coming Sunday on Mother's Day, it will be the
first time in my life that I will wear a white
flower in honor of Mom.
I
thank God for a Godly Mother !! Proverbs
31:28 "Her children arise and call her
blessed" 31:29"Many women do noble
things, but you surpass them
all."
May
god bless each of you as you honor Mother in
some way.
Gwen
