Mom + Power

 

Mom.

Aside from the gentle, kind encourager, she remains the unyielding example of strength in my life.

Her many hats have included hair-clip maker, cupcake baker, school teacher, Sunday-school teacher, field trip goer, sleepover chaperon and so many more.

She teachers 7^th grade English and has since before I was born.

She has taught in the inner city, where her 7^th graders dwarfed her 5’1” frame. 

She has given countless hours of tutoring, debate coaching, spelling bee judging, bus loading coordinating, fundraiser volunteering and even learned a dance for a pep rally a few years ago.

What makes her powerful? 

Her example.  Her absolute dedication to loving children.

A few years ago, we learned of some very sad circumstances in our extended family.  Four children, aged 12-17, were going to be split up and put in foster care.

Without any hesitation, mom and dad opened their finally grown home to these teens... Four Teenagers. 

For over a year, they reentered the teenage years full of physicals, parent-teacher conferences, updating shot records, after school concerts, homework, and the never ending laundry.

This wasn’t a bake sale over the weekend or a retreat they had to coordinate.  This was a day in and day out job of tough love, hurt feelings, sarcasm and tears. 

The good news? 

It has ended in a family that has been reunited, healed, strengthened and changed.

I love hearing the phone ring when I am at her house and the four kids still asking for Aunt Beth. 

They still call her, almost two years later, for advice and encouragement. 

Not everyone gets to share their mom with four other children, but I am so thankful I did.

Would I have the courage to follow her example?  I don’t know. 

But what an example it is!  Strength, love and laundry.

I love you mom.

Baby Girl

 

Comments

[Siri]

This is such a lovely post. reminded me of my childhood days when my mom used to happily feed me and my army of friends. :-).

Thanks for sharing with all of us. Wishing you and your family a very happy & prosperous 2011.

Best,
Siri

[Tracy]

Love this! Thank you for sharing your reflections on your Mom. And thank you to your Mom for being such a generous soul. I think many people, me included, take all that our Moms do for granted. Or, we tend to only thank them on Mother’s Day. I won’t be spending Christmas with my parents this year, but it was so much fun to see my Mom’s reaction when I got enough time off work to surprise her and my Dad on Christmas Day last year (as they both always say all they want for Christmas is to have me home for it!) It was priceless!

[Sara at Saving For Someday]

I bet my mom and your mom would have been friends!

As I sit here at my grandma's house and reminisce with her about life, I never hear of tinge of hesitation in all she did for others. Without concern for 'What is in it for me'.

I see that picture of your mom and I can tell from her look that she doesn't either. G-D fills us with more love than we can shower on our own children, spouse, grandchildren and friends that we are compelled to reach out to total strangers, brief acquaintances, and extended family. Not to empty our heart of the love but to help it stay filled!

[Mary Thompson]

Thank you baby. Of course you would. You choosr Love.
I'm so proud of you.

MT