Mother's Day

Who am I? I am a compilation of all the people I have ever met. A mosaic constructed of my companions and expanded by my experiences. There are two people I can finger who have had the most contact with me in my lifetime, and therefore the most direct influence over my character. But only one of them showed me more about who I am through their accomplishments and faithfulness than through their mistakes. That person is my mother.

I am unsure how much I can attribute to her influence, but I suspect that the sum is far more than I could ever name. I know that she sang to me as a child, and now I love music. I know that she hugged me tightly and told me that everything would be all right, and now a hug feels special and comforting. I know that she was faithful to family and to the Lord while she raised me, and now I value family and Lord as she did.

I have not yet been a father so I can't speak from experience as to what a parent feels for a child. I can only speak as a child and describe what this child perceives that a mother feels for her child. This child believes that his mother would do anything for him, give anything that she had to support him if she believed it would make a difference in his life. This child believes that his mother will never leave or abandon him, no matter how far she travels or who enters into her life. This child believes that his mother is faithful to the Lord and will never cease to help him understand that the Lord is good and brings salvation and strength into his life. This child believes that his mother will never give up and will always persevere through thick and thin.

My mother left some very touching memories within me and when I reflect upon them I am filled with confidence. To know that the blood of my mother is within my veins is to know that I was destined for fatherhood, that I am secure in passing on a legacy of greatness.

"As the deer pantheth for, the water O my soul longeth after thee,
You O Lord are my hearts, desire and I long, to worship thee,
You O Lord are my strength my shield,
To you alone may my spirit yeild,
You O Lord are my hearts, desire and I long, to worhip you."

I finally found psalm 42 which had to be the inspiration for the first line of this song... you always did love the psalms mom.

You sang this to me as a child, probably bearing the hope that someday it would hit home that the song is more than just a bedtime tune or a pretty melody. I'd like to tell you that your hope has hit home, and it is more than just the song that I have learned. Age has a way of portenting understand, and every day I get older I seem to realize more of what you did for me. Each day I become more thankful for the foundation you built in my life. I will spend the rest of my life hoping to make you proud, for I know that in your eyes lies the favor of the Lord as well.

I leave you with a final portion of psalm, mom, with the assurance that you have taught me this verse even though you may not have said the words. Psalm 119, spoken by Taw, verses 169-176.

"May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not fogotten your commands."