I hope you survived last week’s extreme temperatures. It was 84 degrees Saturday through Monday. The humidity made it feel like 91 degrees according to AccuWeather.com. By Tuesday night it was in the forties. When I woke up Thursday morning it was 36 degrees outside. Within two days I went from wearing shorts and a wide-brimmed hat to pants and a winter hat.
Before I forget, I need to tell you that Rocky Glen Cemetery’s Memorial Day service is at 1 p.m., not 2 p.m., as I wrote last week. Sorry about that.
If you’re coming to Rocky Glen’s service, bring sunscreen, a hat, and water. It’s always beastly hot and you’ll get a sunburn otherwise. Sorry – it’s the mom in me.
Last Sunday was Mother’s Day. This morning I was thinking about the difference between a mother and a mama. This is my definition: A mother is someone who has either given birth to or raised a child or children. A mama is something entirely different.
A mama is someone who loves her children, who sacrifices sleep, comfort, money, time, and personal dreams for her babies. She cleans up puke, bakes birthday cakes even if she’s sick, drives her kids to practices, hosts parties and sleepovers, cries when her kids’ hearts break, and rejoices when they overcome an obstacle.
The Bible says “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 NKJV). That’s what a mama does.
God blessed me with a mama. She came to my band concerts, supported me as a student, and helped me deal with the heartbreaks of backstabbing friends. She was a tireless encourager. I learned how to cook, bake, clean house, and change diapers from her. Yeah, I’m a housewife, so these skills served me way better than learning to dissect a worm or prove a geometry theorem. Actually, I never did learn how to prove a theorem.
She taught me to love Jesus. I saw her read her Bible daily, which inspired me to read my Bible regularly. Attending church was part of my family’s lifestyle. Now I take my family to church.
When I’m gone I hope to be remembered for the things my mama taught me: faith in Christ, loving my husband and children, and using my gifts to encourage others.
I hope you see your mama when you read these words. Which memory of your mom means the most to you?
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!