In honor of our Mother’s Day, various
staff are sharing some devotional thoughts about their mothers. May you enjoy
this detour from our regular devotionals as we see a little into the personal
lives of some of our staff?
“All that I am or ever
hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
As I reflect on my mom I feel a smile
coming to my face. Moms are special. And I was blessed to have a good one. Wrong. I had a great
one! My mom grew up as a kid in the 1930’s and 1940’s around The Four Sixes
Ranch near Guthrie, Texas. Yes, out in the middle of nowhere. She was raised in
a Christian home where she learned solid values, hard work, and the importance
of faith. She didn’t have much in terms of earthly wealth but was rich when it
came to her love and service for others. This is the environment and character
in which I was raised.
An only child, my mom raised me, as a
single parent balancing her life as a secretary at the Air Force base and then
provided for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Looking back now as a parent, I’m blown away
by what she did for me through the years considering she battled lupus and
cancer through my teen and college years, before going home to be with the Lord
when I was a newlywed.
But there is a single moment in time
that defines the character, concern, and commitment my mother consistently
displayed through my life. It was in the harrowing moments of Terrible Tuesday,
April 10, 1979 when a deadly tornado hit my home and hometown of Wichita Falls,
Texas. I remember as a frightened eleven year old those destructive moments as
the storm blew through our home. My mom covered me in the closet at the central
point of our home as the winds raged leaving debris flying, walls falling, and
glass breaking in the windows. However, what I most recall during those moments
was my mom praying over us and calling upon the Lord. When we crawled out of
the debris I asked her: “Mom, what will we do? Where will we go?” She calmly
said: “That’s not important. God has taken care of us and will continue to do
so. Don’t worry, trust Him!”
Wow! Those words have guided my life
and have been the foundation of my family and my faith. Put God first and then love and care for others.
He will take care of the rest. My mom
not only talked it but walked it.
I so wish my kids could have known
their grandmother. But I do know they have learned the principles of faith and
family from which I was raised and I am thankful to my mom for sharing with me.
Scripture to Claim
Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
of a good report - if there is any virtue and if there is any praise- think on
these things. ~Philippians 4:8
Submitted by Jim
Garner
