May 9, 2009

Greetings My Friend,

It is Mother’s Day tomorrow. It is a day in which I think back. My Mom was not a cuddly Mom. Grandma wasn’t either. Irene, my mother-in-law, she is the one I think about lately. I find that I miss her more as the years pass. She has been with the Lord for many years now and I find myself remembering her at strange times.

Irene never finished elementary school. Women didn’t in that generation. Irene had 8 children – 7 boys the last one was a girl. Her first baby died as a baby. Irene knew how to “do” babies. She knew if you put a cool teaspoon on their gums, they settled down when they were teething. She knew to cover the baby’s ears in the spring and fall. She was full of folksy wisdom.

When I was a newly married, to her son, she talked to me about being a wife. She and I were at alone in her kitchen and she talked to me like I was her daughter. I remember loving it at the time. She told me that I needed to be at my husband’s side, as he did the manly stuff around the house. She told me when we had people over to help us fix, move whatever, that I needed to make food. I remembered those lessons and tried to do them. My husband and I did not work well with each other. Still, I remembered what she taught me.

Christmas was fun at her house. She always had the entire gang over on Christmas Eve. After everyone ate, the sister-in-laws, the sister and Irene were in the kitchen doing dishes by hand. She had a dishwasher, but we did most of the dishes by hand. Being out there was so special. We talked girl talk. We laughed at the antics of the men in our lives. We shared and we loved.

I also remember that at 11:00 Irene and Chuck (my father-in-law) went to church. I loved watching them walk out the door. I loved knowing they were going to worship. We did not go with them. We had little ones to get home. We had gone earlier. I had always wanted to leave the celebration and go worship.

As Irene got older, I remember her telling me how she made her way down the aisle at church so she could take communion. She was a widow by then. She went with her cousin. The two of them locked their arms around each other and walked down the aisle. They were both too sick to walk down on their own steam. They were in church though. I find that thought so precious. As I try to walk with God, it is Irene I come back to. She truly loved Jesus.

Irene had a bad heart, too many years smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. When she had by-pass surgery, the doctor told her that her arteries were like egg shells. Irene needed a second by-pass surgery. She chose not to have it done. I watched her die a little at a time. It was hard, but she was courageous. She knew she was going home to Jesus and she was not afraid. Again, I remember her faith and marvel at the woman I grew to love.

I find that God puts people in our path. Many of them teach us precious lessons. This Mother’s Day, I pray that you love the mother’s in your midst. Look past their strange ways and see the lesson’s that are there.

May God Bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you.

Love

Janet

Proverbs 11:6

A gracious lady is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace.

Proverbs 14:1

Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.

Proverbs 24:3-4

Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding. Where there is knowledge the rooms are furnished with beautiful valuable things.