April 26, is my mom’s birthday, she would have been 88, but God took her home five years ago. Mom was not perfect, although she was a perfectionist. She was an extremely clean person and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Mom loved her family, and her Jesus! She never met a stranger and if you were in her presence for more than a minute, she would know everything about you before the conversation was over. And would pray for you no matter where she was.
You see mom was called by God when she was just a little girl to point others to Jesus. In fact, a pastor prayed over her when she about six years old and said, “Lord make her your prophetess.” She went home and told her mama that he said, “Make her his property.” Which I guess is just as good! LOL!
Of course, life had its difficult times and down right ugly times and mom certainly survived those times. She came, so close, to death, many times throughout her life, but God always brought her through. Mom lived by faith and was faithful to God and her family.
She had a wonderful sense of humor, was an excellent swimmer, cook, seamstress and artist.
She read her bible every day, quoted scripture chapter and verse and prayed like there was no tomorrow!
From coffee girl, to payroll supervisor, to Pastor of the Holy Church of God in Tampa, Florida, to Evangelist all over the U.S., to Angel of Heaven…
It wasn’t until after she left this world for heaven that I began to understand many of the things she told me, was right, and I could see how she lived her life was the way I wanted to live mine. Isn’t that usually the way of things? I do understand so much better now, that she did love me, she did accept me, and I am proud and so glad to have had her as my mother!!!
If you have a mother who loves you but think she doesn’t…I’ll tell you, she does! Being a mom is difficult. There is no instruction book that can tell you how to be a mother…Oh there are books, but you don’t learn how to be a mother from a book… being a mother seems almost impossible at times…you get weary and tired but you keep going. You get lonely when the kids are all grown and living their own lives, but that’s how it’s supposed to be…so don’t hold it against your mom if you don’t see eye to eye on things…one day she’ll be gone and you’ll wish you had her back, if for nothing else than just someone to disagree with you!!!
Trust me, I know it’s difficult. I know you want to run away at times. I know you want to scream I’M AN ADULT! Her words echo back to you, “Then act like one!” LOL!
In her eyes you will always be your mommy’s, little boy/girl. And think about this…your kids will feel the exact same way about you!! So, show a little grace to your mom and you’ll get the same!
Sometimes you just have to love your moms from a distance and that’s OK too! But love them! Because without them you wouldn’t be here!
Good, bad, or indifferent…our mothers are who carried us for nine months, bore us with great pain and watched us grow with all of our trials and tribulations, and hoped beyond hope that we would survive!! She’s cried over you, prayed over you until her tongue hung out…she’s worried and sacrificed time, energy, money, and loved you with all her strength. Even when you didn’t love her back…she would give her life for you! A mother’s love is the closest love to God’s that you will ever know! Even when it doesn’t feel like it! At least that’s how it is for me! I love my kids all of them and I am so very proud that my mom left a legacy, passed on to the next generations. I love you Mom, one day I will see you again! Until that time…I want my kids to know that I love them with all my heart, now and forever!
Thanks, Mom, for being my Mother!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill – April 15, 2020
Ephesians 6:1-3 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Children, if you want to be wise, listen to your parents and do what they tell you, and the Lord[a] will help you.
2 For the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached: 3 “You will prosper[b] and live a long, full life if you honor your parents.”
Footnotes:
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Ephesians 6:1 Or “through our Lord.”
- Ephesians 6:3 Or “it will go beautifully for you.”
John 19:26-27 The Passion Translation (TPT)
26 So when Jesus looked down and saw the disciple he loved standing with her, he said, “Mother,[a] look—John[b] will be a son to you.” 27 Then he said, “John, look—she will be a mother to you!” From that day on, John accepted Mary into his home as one of his own family.[c]
Footnotes:
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John 19:26 Or “woman.”
- John 19:26 Although unnamed, this was most certainly John the apostle. John, the apostle of love, was the only one of the Twelve who stood near the cross and witnessed the crucifixion. Love doesn’t quit, run away, or hide from pain. It endures all things, overcomes all things, and empowers us in all things. John didn’t run from the suffering of the Savior. We must be those who will stand next to Jesus even if the entire world is against us.
- John 19:27 Mary would be nearly fifty years old and a widow. What tenderness we see with Jesus toward his mother! Moments before his death, Jesus thought about Mary and her long journey back to Nazareth and that no one would be there to provide for her. Jesus deeply honored his mother.
