Tribute

I am the eleventh child of twelve children born to my mother and father.  According to my birth certificate my mother was forty-two years old when she gave birth to me.  My oldest sibling was about twenty years older than me with children of her own when I was born; which means that I was an aunt the day I was born, how amazing is that, but I digress.  When I was young I was surrounded by a loving family and extended family.  We grew up with my Paternal grandparents in the home, in fact I am named after my paternal grandmother who was a twin.  

I often think about my grandmother and mother, even more during Mother's Day celebration.  My grandmother was our caretaker, while my mother and father worked. She was a strong woman, mentally and physically, she was a stern disciplinarian, and she believed in children staying in their place, but as stern as she was, she was just as loving and caring.  My grandmother loved animals, especially cats, I remember once someone brought her a box with kittens in them that had left on the side of the road.  She allowed us to play with the kittens and taught us how to feed them and nurse them until they could feed on their own.  One night the kittens were playing in the hallway near my grandmothers room.  Just as she reached her door one of the kittens ran under her foot and she stepped on it's little leg breaking it.  I watched as my grandmother picked up the kitten, cuddle it in her lap, rocking back and forth and repeatedly saying, "oh my goodness, I am so sorry," I even remember seeing tears roll down her cheeks.  My grandmother was just as loving to us kids.  I remember once getting a spanking for something, that no kid now adays would get a spanking for I'm sure; after the spanking my grandmother picked me up and put me in her lap, as she kissed me on my cheek and wiped away my tears, she began to peel an orange for me, then she whispered in my ear;  Babygirl, please don't make mama Lissie ever have to spank you again.  I don't think I ever got a spanking after that day.  

My mother possessed a very quiet strength.  She didn't express her feelings very openly but she showed it in how she cared for you. She made sure you felt welcomed when you were around her, she laughed a lot and she cooked a lot of food.  She didn't meet strangers and she took care of everybody's kids.  Even when there was not enough food in the house for us, she managed to feed neighbors and family members that stopped by.  Over the years, my mother became my best friend, I could confide in her about anything, she was never judgmental, she didn't hesitate to tell me when I was wrong, and she stood by all of us during various phases of our lives.

Proverbs 31:25-28

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;

My grandmother transitioned when I was twelve years old, my mother transitioned on my thirty-first birthday.  These two honorable women showed their strength in different ways, they raised us to respect and treat everyone with kindness.  As I have parented and am parenting I often think of my grandmother and my mother's character and strengths, I think about the things they taught us growing up and I can't help but wonder sometimes if they would be proud of the mother I am. 

On this Mother's Day, whether your Mother is here with you or with the Lord, I pray that you honor her strengths and weaknesses because those are the characteristics that help mold you!

Much Love

Happy Mother's Day

Melissa