I just read my good friend David Holder's blog (you can find the article here http://drdave3.blogspot.com/2007/10/dear-folks.html) about his parents and it reminded me of something that I wrote about my mom way back in 1998 in The Malvern Daily Record newspaper. (My daughter the engineer pointed out that the dates first mentioned didn't jive with my math. I hope I got it right as corrected below. Thanks, daughter.)
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Mother's Day - May, 1999
Last Saturday, my family and many of our friends gathered in northeast Arkansas for my mother’s funeral. She lived a long life and when death came to her at almost 87 years of age, she died peacefully in her sleep. As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, let me share some memories of her that teach the biblical importance of mothers.
I wish that I a nickel for every time that I heard my mom say, “I hope that I live long enough to ...” I guess that she was concerned that since she was in her forties when I was born that her time would be up before my adult life began to unfold. Back when I was a young boy, forty seemed like old age. Now that I’m 46, I can understand my mother’s perspective on how quickly time passes. The Psalmist understood this, too. “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth” (Psalm 103:15). Since time does pass so quickly, let’s make the most of it as parents.
My mom would say often, “I hope that I live long enough to see you graduate from high school.” I’m the last of seven children, born seven years after the sixth. My oldest sister has a child older that I am. When I was young, kids my age often thought that I lived with my grandparents. My education was important to my mother. Most parents see the importance of academic education. Do you see the importance of spiritual education? The Bible teaches parents to “bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). My parents missed this important foundation in my early years, but thankfully both they and I got involved in church when my dad retired and we moved to Arkansas when I was twelve. Parents, don’t forget to teach your children about the ABC’s and about the Lord.
As time passed, my mom started to say, “I hope that I live long enough to see you graduate from college.” Well, she did ... four times, in fact! I received my bachelor’s degree in 1975, a master’s degree in 1976, another master’s degree in 1988, and my doctorate in 1992. But, of all the things that I learned as I studied, I discovered that the greatest truth is the simplest one: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Our daughter is just completing her first year in college. How time flies! It seems like only yesterday I was completing mine. Parents, teach your children the principles they’ll need in a way that will honor God. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4). I think that mom was pleased with the way that I “turned out.”
While I was in college, mom then started saying, “I hope that I live long enough to see you get married.” Well, she did ... in 1975. Mom knew that my life would be happiest if I had someone to share it with. She was right. “A virtuous woman ... the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:10-12).
After we got married, mom began to say (yep, you guessed it): “I hope that I live long enough to see your first child born.” Well, she did ... our first child was born in 1980. I remember that when we found out we were expecting our first baby, I called home and joked with her, “Mom, if you can hold on for another six months, you can die a happy woman!” She not only “held on” for the first baby, but she saw our second one born, too! My mom took great joy in her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Children’s children are the crown of the old” (Proverbs 17:6). It’s important to pass on our heritage to the next generation ... our family traditions, customs, and, most importantly, our faith.
What would my mom say now if she could speak? How about this: “I hope that while you live, you not only hope for things to come to pass but you do the things that pass along hope to your children.” For a lady who began at age 40 to “hope” a lot for me, she “did” a lot for me in the years before her death. “... In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, ‘What have ye to do with the Lord God?’” (Joshua 22:24). None of us know how much time we have, so let’s make the most of it for our sake and the sake of our children. I hope to live long enough to see the things come to pass that my mom hoped for. But, if I don't, I hope that I have spent the time doing those things that show our children “what we have to do with the Lord God.”
I hope you have a blessed Mother’s Day. I will because of what my mom hoped would come to pass in my life. And, even more, I will because I know that some day I will see my mother again in God’s eternal Heaven because we both trusted Him.
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Well ... since I wrote that column 8 years ago, let me update you on our family. I'm now 54 and Kay and I moved to England, Arkansas. Our daughter graduated from college and married a wonderful Christian young man and they live in Minnesota. Our son graduated from college and is in seminary in Waco, Texas.
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The graphic at the top right of this post is my mother's page from our church's "Book of Life." In her own word and in her own handwriting is her account of her salvation and baptismal experience. I'm so glad I have it!
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This just one pastor's (and one son's) perspective.
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