Mother’s give us many things in this life.
Perhaps you may recall some of the many gifts you have received in yours.
But as for me, the greatest gift I have was given to me by my own mother.
She is the one who taught me to value this precious object, which is so undervalued in today’s busy-body world.
This object is worth more than all the money of the world can buy… And yet, it is free to everyone.
My mother gave me a beautiful belief and trust in God. She gave me the Christian Faith.
I remember fondly gathering with my two parents, five sisters and only brother around my parents bed every morning to pray the family prayers. Being the
youngest of the family, I always loved to hold the baby Jesus statue we prayed with.
I also remember the many times Mom would read us the Old Testament tales from a children’s abridged bible stories book. We heard of the Garden of Eden,
the Tower of Babel, the Great Flood of Noah, the Binding of Isaac, the strength of Sampson, the trial of Susanna, and countless other stories. These
entertained us during rain and thunderstorms when we were prevented from playing outside.
Countless times she would bring me with her to donate money to the poor box at church. I loved how she would often let me place the money.
And her many sayings stick with me today: “Curiosity killed the cat”, “Choices; Consequences. Bad choices make bad consequences”, “Every good thing you
do, you store up treasure in your treasure box in heaven; it’s your choice to be rich or poor”, “Tenfold: for every evil thing you do, God will return
it to you ten times”, etc. That last one, despite its melancholic tone, still makes all her children chuckle to this day.
And how about the great lessons of mercy she taught me by many times not punishing me as severely as I had deserved.
My mother, in her simple ways, taught me that there is a God, that He loves me, and that my actions can either hurt or help His relationship with me.
Mom, you have given me many things, but it is for this faith that I am most thankful!