A Tribute to My Mom

Editor’s note:  It’s been a while since making any entries to this blogspot.  Attention has been focused on issues surrounding the relocation of our church.  You will see another blopspot dedicated for that purpose (kfbuilding.blogspot.com). 

People always ask, what are you doing for your mom on Mother’s Day?  Although I usually have something up my sleeve, I would at times brush off said question with a smile and a brief comment.  To me, mothers should be celebrated every day.  Rudyard Kipling once said: “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” Like it or not, mothers are everywhere and have done so much to impact so many arenas of our lives that it’s near impossible not to celebrate them everyday.  They should be told “I love you” from all their children whenever they get a chance to.  They should be cared for; they should be spoken with, and they should be showered with all the love their children could give, through acts of kindness, through a listening ear and through their presence.

I’m happy that my church celebrated mothers yesterday, as most churches are doing this weekend, even as the world reflects on mothers across the globe during this time.  Yet, I’m happy to announce that this morning I, along with my three sisters and niece, celebrated my mom, Janet Scott, in a way that was meaningful.  With technology the way it is, it took us a few tries to get all of us on the phone to say in unison “Happy Mother’s Day!” My mom is a smart woman and knew that something was up.  We called several times, but she didn’t pick up.  My little sister, Jewel, literally had to take the phone to her, but when we thought she was on, she appeared to have hung up, busily attempting to get some stuff done in the washer room. 

We tried once again and this time, mom answered.  Lots of laughs ensued as we all tried to recount our attempts, which proved fruitless until now, to get in contact with her.  But we finally moved on to share with her our heart as children.  We sang “Happy Mother’s Day” to her.  We expressed our best wishes to her, as well.  Then I suggested we pray.  My mom loves prayer and wasn’t satisfied with just one prayer.  She wanted all of us to pray.  So, from the youngest to the eldest, we all prayed and, in our prayer, asked God for his continued guidance, blessing and sustaining grace to be with mom throughout the many years ahead.  There’s more to come as a few of us will take her flowers and some other goodies to her later today.

Still, as I reflect on my mother, I couldn’t help but think of her through the lens of the Virtuous Woman found in Proverbs 31, where King Solomon penned a blog post on what a virtuous woman is like.  I couldn’t help but think that my dad was a lucky man for making her his bride several decades ago.  Take a look at how Solomon begins his reflection:  “Who can find a virtuous wife?  For her worth is far above rubies.” Without sharing his entire list of a virtuous woman, here are a few he mentions of the same: “She…willingly works with her hands…  She…rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household… She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms….  She extends her hand to the poor, yes she reaches out her hands to the needy….  Strength and honour are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.  She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” And because of all this “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” (Proverbs 31:10-28)

King Solomon probably had more to share.  However, many of his thoughts encapsulate how I feel about the woman I call mom.  She’s intelligent, strong, and industrious.  She’s fiercely focused on her household and her children.  She is sweet, kind, loving, caring.  She looks out for the needy, for the hungry, the less fortunate.  She is proudly in love with Jesus giving her time to the work of the ministry as an elder, deaconess, missionary, prayer warrior.  When my dad, the late Pastor John Scott, felt low in ministry, my mom buoyed his spirits up.  When I at times feel the same in my ministry, my mom does the same for me with her encouraging words and her prayers.  My list could go on and on with many stories and anecdotes simply to say that, I am proud to call my mother today, as I do always, a virtuous woman.  I have become the man that I am because of the moral, intellectual, and spiritual person she is.  My prayer is that God would continue to bless her in return in the years yet to come. 

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! 

Pastor John