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All that I am … I owe to my mother

The second Sunday in May was able to sneak by me this year, so I thought, “Oh well, I will write something for Mother’s Day next year.”

FAITH AND REFLECTION -- The second Sunday in May was able to sneak by me this year, so I thought, “Oh well, I will write something for Mother’s Day next year.” But then I was notified that my niece and nephew had a brand-new baby girl. Going online I found her; healthy, happy and beautiful … and to my delight, named after my mom!

I’ve said farewell to many family members and friends over the years, but I miss none of them more than my mother. She’s been gone for nearly 29 years, but fond memories of her remain intact and visit my consciousness on a regular basis … and I like it.

Mothers have the propensity to make a strong and enduring impact. Washington Irving, best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, said “The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes, it never tires, it endures through all; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world’s condemnation, a mother’s love still lives on.”

Motherhood brings two words to mind – sacrifice and compassion. That’s a pretty good combination, isn’t it? I will not elevate motherhood to the level of the Lord Jesus, but I do see a parallel in terms of behaviour. Galatians 2:20 explains that “… .the Son of God (Jesus) loved me, and gave himself for me.” As sacrifice and compassion led Christ to give Himself for us, many mothers are prone to give themselves for their family, as illustrated in the following anecdotes.

A math teacher said, “Your mother baked a pie and there were seven of you … your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get?” One boy replied, “A sixth!” The teacher said, “You don’t know your fractions very well! Remember, there are 7 of you.” The boy answered, “Yes, but you don’t know my mother very well. Mother would say she doesn’t want any pie.”

On a more sombre note, a young mother was making her way across the hills of South Wales, carrying her baby boy in her arms, when she was caught in a terrible blizzard. A search party later found her body buried under the snow. They discovered that before her death, she had taken off her outer clothing and wrapped them around her baby. Unwrapping the child, they discovered that he was alive and well. She had placed her body over his and given her life for the child. Incidentally, that child was David Lloyd George, who grew up to become prime minister of Great Britain and is considered to be one of England’s greatest statesman.

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Abraham Lincoln

Oh, by the way … happy belated Mother’s Day!