Had our Mom lived until today, she would have been 96 years old (6/26/1929). But, today, in the Presence of Christ, she is ageless, timeless, and blessed forever! I have told people for years “Don’t even try to out-sentimentalize me over my Mom!” But it isn’t just sentimentalism; it’s genuine, passionate, heart-felt, and heart-held love for her. And it’s gratitude to God for ordaining that she would give me birth and be my Mother.

I have posted numerous tributes to her over the years—and I have a lifetime of loving honor I could give her—so I won’t reprise them here. But suffice it to sum up:

Mom has been the sweetest model and influence of love and grace in my life and the lives of my other five brothers and sisters.

I have never known a more sweet-spirited woman of Grace than my Mom. I wrote in a poem/song for her and Dad many years ago:

“My father taught me to fear the Lord, my mother taught me His love…”

And that’s true. But all of their instruction to us was conducted in perfect harmony—Mom taught me to fear the LORD also, and she sure taught me His love!

This was brought back to my mind with fresh, sweet power just a couple weeks ago. Our Sunday School lesson was from Psalm 19. The concluding verse 14 of that Psalm is a personal prayer of response David prayed to The LORD after extolling the virtues and sweetness of the Word of God:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer” (KJV).

As I related to our class, that prayer is one—if not the one—of the first Scriptures I can remember memorizing. And Mom taught me to memorize it. I can still hear her voice leading me to repeat it over and over. Both Dad and Mom taught us to memorize TONS of Scripture—but this is the first one I can remember. She wanted me to not only learn to say it from memory; but more, she wanted to teach me to live by it—and pray it!

And I have. I don’t think there is a day that passes but that Scripture comes to my soul. And most days, I pray it. It is as comprehensive a prayer I know to pray to lead me to live with a Godly fear of The LORD and to offer every moment and movement of my life as an ‘acceptable sacrifice,’ obedient and pleasing to Him.

So, again today, I ‘rise up and call her blessed … Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all … Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31.28, 29, 31).   

Can’t wait to see her again…