Thank goodness for mothers

A lot of ink has been used to honor and commemorate Motherhood. This was true before and has been true since the inception of Mother’s Day being observed as a holiday. 

The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908 in the United States. 

This was to say “Thank You,” to our Moms, though Mothers and motherhood has been celebrated for centuries throughout the world. 

When you talk about “jack-of-all-trades” you are describing our mothers. Their most important job, after giving birth of course, is offering their comfort. Each and every one of us has a never-ending need for Her comfort! Here is an excerpt from Helen Steiner Rice’s poem,                                                                                                    “A Mother’s Love”          

 “A mother’s love is patient and forgiving,

 when all others are forsaking, 

it never fails or falters, 

even though the heart is breaking.” 

Thank goodness, Mothers are given the ability to handle that job. We will never be able to do enough or say “thanks” enough to cover our debt to our Moms, but we each should try our very best! And on the sixth day, God looked down on Adam in his planned paradise and said, “I need a nurturer.” So God made a mother. (from Paul Harvey’s “So God Made A Mother”).  

Betty White said, “My mother used to say, ‘The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.” 

And my nephew, Ryan Peterson, after a frustrating encounter with his mom exclaimed, “Moms, you gotta love them.”  

Stella’s Mother came to Texas after WWII from Elizabeth, New Jersey, the daughter of Italian immigrants and where she met Stella’s dad who was in the army, stationed in that locale. She eventually joined him in New Mexico where they married and soon moved to Texas. 

She was strong in her faith, took care of her family, and was a good manager of finances. My Mom did not work outside the home. She was in a Ladies Finishing School in Lubbock, Texas where she met dad who was a Texas Tech student. 

She and dad went with an eloping couple to Claude, Texas, where they also decided to marry. Both of our Moms lived a long full life and passed traits to children and grandchildren of their strong faith, character, and profound words of wisdom with each visit.       

My poem is a bit different today. I wrote it from some notes that my Mom had written. Shortly after her death, I was looking at some notations in my Mom’s Bible where I found a letter that she had written some time ago to her children.  

She made several points, and these points I put into a poem. 

 

MOMS PRAYER

“God loves you and I love you with all my heart,” Mammy 

Soon I must go that final mile,

 so be brave and keep a gallant smile.

Trust God and His love proclaim,

as you ask for blessings in His name.

 

Have faith in God, ask for His grace,

He’ll give you strength with His embrace.

Treat others with love that is sincere,

and love will come back to hold you dear.

Don’t spend your life in empty days,

 but fill each hour in useful ways.

Always be fair with your fellow man,

you see, that is part of God’s plan.

 

Love your Country and that grand ol’ Flag,

be a good citizen but not one to brag.

Make your word true with shake of your hand,

hold to your beliefs and make your stand.

 

Be a good friend and watch your friends back,

for true friendship you shall never lack.

 Make God number one in your life,

let Him wipe away all of your strife.

 

Reach out your hand with comfort and cheer

and God will comfort and hold you near.

Have faith in God and you will see,

eternal life is yours for free!

© Ol’ Jim Cathey  

 

Mom’s smiles can brighten any moment,

Mom’s hugs put joy in all our days,

Mom’s love will stay with us forever

and touch our lives in precious ways...

Of all the special joys in life,

The big ones and the small,

A mother’s love and tenderness

Is the greatest of them all.

(Anon)

  My Ol’ Daddy always said, “Listen to your Mama when she tells you that the Good Lord will carry you if you will just quit tryin’ to jump out of His arms!”

Happy Mother’s Day to my own young bride Stella and to all of the great Moms of the world!                                                                                                                                                                                    

God bless each of you and God Bless America!

 

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