Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my 70+ year-old mom. A diminutive woman, with a no-nonsense attitude and a BIG personality! As I reflect on my childhood, I stand in awe of all that she did for my siblings and me and how she continues to impact our next generation.

She is a giver. As a young bride, she had a rather difficult decision to make. My aunt, who was a single mom, passed away. My mom agreed to raise two of her children. Later two more of my cousins would join our family. Later in life, another child needed her love and support: now she is mothering a teenage son. Coupled with her biological children, she has reared 11 of us. I get exhausted thinking about all of us running around our three bedroom house; her preparing us for school , church and our annual road trips down south; researching summer programs to keep us busy; refereeing fights and disagreements and constantly providing her unconditional love and support.

An educator. A retired factory worker, she did not go far in school, but she is one of the wisest women I know. With her intuitive mother’s wit, she tutored us all on Sesame Street and The Electric Company. We were expert readers thanks to her personal preschool program. When something was beyond her understanding, she sought the help we needed to achieve and succeed.

Financially savvy. My sister and I have an affinity for classic, timeless clothing, because our mom saw the value of shopping in thrift stores and buying quality rather than trends.

A healthcare expert. She doctored all of us through chickenpox, stomach-aches, toothaches, broken bones and countless other accidents. As we grew older, the illnesses became more serious: epilepsy, diabetes and cancer. She was still there with her gentle spirit, praying for healing and prodding us to seek treatment and take better care of ourselves.

A master chef. She is able to prepare a scrumptious meal in minutes and leave us all wanting for more.

Blunt and to the point. She calls it likes she sees it. If you are wrong, she’ll tell you. If you need to do better, she’ll let you know that too. She challenges us to be and do our best and doesn’t accept excuses.

An advocate. She will go to battle for what is right for the family. Forcing us to talk to each other, when we are too stubborn to realize disagreements shouldn’t keep us apart. If we did well she was at the school making sure we did better; if we weren’t doing well, she was at the school making sure we would do better. Now, she lobbies for her grandchildren’s success.

She has a strong work ethic. She has worked as a maid, a factory worker and babysitter. No job was beneath her, she did what she had to do to help my Dad provide for the family.

She loves her community. Don’t talk about the urban area she calls home. Despite the crime or bad news stories, she is always able to find the good in the city. When prostitutes began to flock to the corners in her neighborhood she overcame them with love. She fed them; encouraged them and told them about the love of Jesus.

Has a great sense of humor. In every church fashion show or every gospel play she’s been involved in, she shuts the place down with her hysterical moves and awesome delivery.

She is an awesome caretaker. With the spirit of a 40 year-old, she is a caretaker for her grandchildren. Her service is priceless. She is not sedentary. She forces this electronic generation to go outside and play, takes them on long walks, reads books to them as if she were in a theatrical production, bathes them, feeds them and prepares them for bed.

Most importantly, she is a woman of God. She is the Proverbs 31 woman. She showed us what it meant to truly love the Lord. Not just by her words, but through her actions.

Mom, for all that you do for our family. We salute you today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day.