I Salute You...

I get nostalgic this time of year as Mothers’ Day approaches.  My mind drifts back to other years- other Mothers’ Days – when we celebrated our Moms.  

It’s been 8 years since my own dear Mom went to be with Jesus – 8 years of Mothers’ Days without her – without being able to call her on the phone or fly across the country to be with her.   

This past August my Mother-in-law joined Mom in Heaven. 

And for the first time ever, this Mothers’ Day we have no Moms – 

No Mothers to honor or celebrate on this annual holiday.  

It feels strange – weird to know that now we are the elder generation.

And then I think, first of all how grateful I am to have HAD a Mother who truly loved me – 

Who cared enough to make sure I learned about Jesus – 

Who disciplined me so I learned how to become a responsible adult – 

Who instilled in me principles of integrity, morality, faithfulness, loyalty, love for God, compassion for others, hard work, and dedication to God and His Word. 

Although we lived apart geographically for most of my adult life, 

we remained close. She made sure of that!  

I miss her.

I’m grateful for the Mother of my wonderful husband who I’ve had the joy of living with for these 46 years. I’m thankful for her because without her I would not have him!

Then I think of the other Mothers in my life – Mothers to be honored and celebrated. 

There are the three Mothers of our grandchildren:

Liz, our daughter, and Hailey and Kristen, who married our sons.

They are fine young women who love God, their children, and their spouses. 

They are doing a great work raising their children so they will become responsible adults. 

They are working hard to instill godly principles in their children, 

while showing by example how to love God and love others.

Then there are the Mothers of my children’s spouses:

Cathy Brown, who gave us Kristen, wife of our son, Peter Jr, and mother of two of our grandchildren. 

Nancy Hamilton Brake who gave us Hailey, wife of our son, Tim, and mother of  three of our grandchildren. 

And Aurelia Pall, who raised Markus, our son-in-law, and welcomed our American English-speaking daughter into her Austrian German-speaking family. We gained two more grandchildren as a result of that marriage.

How grateful we are to these three women, our children’s Mothers-in-law – the “other grandmothers” who also love our children and grandchildren.  

We’re thankful that they gave life to their children, 

raised them to be who they are today, 

and lovingly share them with us!

This Mothers’ Day I want to give thanks for the Mothers Pete and I had, 

for the Mother we raised, 

for the Mothers who are raising our grandchildren, 

for their Mothers, and for all those special women who extend their love and influence to others. 

I know that I have been on the receiving end of so much of that! 

This Mothers’ Day I salute you all,

I thank God for you,

I love and honor you today!

Happy Mothers’ Day!

Blessings,

Ruth