We rise up and bless you...

originally posted May 11, 2006...

When I was 10 years old, I entered a Mother’s Day Essay Contest and won first prize. My winnings included a corsage for my mom, as well as dinner at a local restaurant. Mom and I were even featured in the newspaper! My essay read as follows:

"My mother is so very, very wonderful. I think she is the best mom in the world.

She cooks and sews, irons and washes clothes, and is everything a kid and family could ever want. She is always willing to help out. She does so very much for me, things I don’t even really deserve. I think my mom is the greatest in everything she does (including scolding)!

My mom is the greatest because she is so loving and caring and sharing and, I could go on all day, but I just don’t have the time. All these things are why I love her so much. Whenever somebody is sick in the family, she makes sure they get well real soon. My mom and I have a good relationship as mother and daughter. I wish every kid could have a good relationship with their parents as I do mine. My mom and I go out to eat together, go shopping, and all that other stuff that moms and kids do.

A lot of kids don’t every really think of all the things their mothers have to do around the house. I would like to make Mother’s Day special for her because she makes my days special. I would like to take her out to eat, because she’s done so very much for me, and I would like to pay it back. I know this could not pay for all the things she’s done for me, but at least it could show part of my appreciation. If I do win, it would make me so happy. I love my mom!"

Looking back 23 years, I realize that the things I appreciated about my mom were very typical for a child. She provided some very real physical needs in my day-to-day life, and I loved her for it! While I still appreciate many of the above mentioned things about my mom, I’ve come to value and cherish her on a whole new level. Yes, these days she’s my friend.

My heart takes delight in all the times we’ve enjoyed one another over lunch...or during a shopping trip...or simply in the course of an ordinary day. I’ve poured my heart out to her repeatedly, and somehow, telling my cares and concerns to my mom still seems to make them all better. I know it’s because she takes these burdens to our heavenly Father in prayer.

My mom has always desired to create meaningful memories for her family. It’s these moments that stand out in my mind. And now I see her creating these same memories and traditions for her grandchildren. Last spring, our boys and I were rowing "Miss Rumphius" for school. When all 7 grandchildren were gathered at my parents’ house, my mom took them outside to plant lupine seeds, just as Miss Rumphius did in the book. She wants the little ones to have the same sense of security that she gave us. She wants them to have roots (much like those lupines) that go down deep. She wants them to know where they came from and give thanks to God for His grace.

I thank God for placing my mom in such a strategic place in my life. Her priorities have shaped my own. Her heart for her family greatly influenced me. But her heartbeat for God is what has impacted me more than anything. Even today, I love sitting down with her (or standing in my kitchen, as the case may be) and sharing what God is teaching us. Sometimes it’s through tears, but it’s always with thankful hearts that we share with one another how God is working in our lives...searching us, convicting us, changing us, conforming and transforming us.

Yes, on Mother’s Day and all through the year, I honor you...my mom, my friend. I love you.