Dear Mother

Dear Mother,

As I remember you today and reflect on the mother you were, I find myself thinking of the idiomatic expression “unique as a blue diamond.” Why do I say this? I say it because of something very special you shared with me. You shared with me that, despite your situation and circumstances growing up (which were beyond your control), you always had a strong desire to do what is right. God saw your longing heart and led you in wonderful ways. God’s amazing grace began to work powerfully in your life. You had the opportunity to hear the message of salvation and give your life to Jesus and walk in truth. Today, I am still so thankful for His providence in your life, for your obedience in following God’s call and how it set the trajectory for our family. You were a beacon of light for me.

Your quiet walk with Jesus taught me so much. You valued your relationship with Him and kept it in check, always drawing closer to God. The way in which you led our family with your quiet and gentle nature left a credible legacy. You led by example. You lived gentleness. You lived kindness. You lived unassuming. You lived surrendered, committed, and loyal. You endured hardships quietly. You hid heartaches behind a smile. You suffered much pain without drawing attention to yourself. For you, life wasn’t about you; you were always thinking about others. You gave generously of yourself, your time, and your finances. When you knew I was having a difficult day, you would deliver a hot meal to our door for me and my family. You lived with incredible gratefulness for the material blessings and never took these for granted. 

But above all, you were grateful for the gift of salvation. I remember picking up your Bible and reading Philippians 2:8 – “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” next to which you inserted in your handwriting these two words, “for me.” How that impacted me! You were so amazed at God’s love for you. You returned that love to Him and passed it on to me, our family, and others around you. You supported me. You loved my husband. You loved my children. You weighed your words.

Thank you, Mom, for loving me unconditionally. I know that I often frustrated you, but you always had such a forgiving heart and had so much patience with me. You prayed for me. You trusted me. You guided me. You mentored me. You encouraged me. You laughed with me. You cried with me. You sang with me. You prayed with me. You cared so much for my spiritual well-being and the spiritual well-being of others and prayed faithfully for each member of our family. I still see your hands folded in prayer, and the sound of your prayer whispers still linger in my ears.

 You set the bar high, Mom, but I thank you so much for that. You helped shape who I am today, and I am so grateful for that. Thank you for leading me and showing me the way to the Savior you loved so much. You truly lived your faith, and it shone brightly to the very end.

Today I miss you; forever I’ll love you. Longing to see you again.

With all my love,

your daughter

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine.”

Dwight L. Moody