A Tribute to My Mother

She never thought she’d amount to much.
She was a sickly child.
During her father’s military service,
She wore her shoes on the wrong feet,
And she posted a sign,
“Mad house”
For passing truckers to see,
All to her mother’s consternation.
When her left-handed mother
Complimented her acne-ridden daughter,
“You’d do very well if it weren’t for your face,”
She felt the pain
Of humanity.
She probably didn’t hear
The echoes her mother intended:
You have good features.
You have a beautiful figure.
Your personality is delightful.
You have poise and grace.
You are intelligent.
You are loved.
She never thought she’d amount to much.

But she inherited
Wisdom
And a love for people
From her father;
Poise and propriety
From her mother and older sister;
Playfulness and a love of story
From her little brother;
And they gave her a heart,
A heart for God,
Feet,
Strong legs,
And wings.
Then she found a gem of a life’s partner
And she flew
Like an eagle
With grace and beauty
All around the earth,
Leaving blessings of God’s love
Wherever she chose to light.

There is no voice
Like my mother’s voice.
In my terrors,
Her rich gentle voice
Reminds me of the
Presence of God
And my fears are calmed.
In my sadness and confusion,
Her voice soothes
And counsels,
Find rest, O my soul
In God alone.
In my joy,
Her laughter sparkles
And twinkles
Like fireworks glittering
In the night sky.
She plays,
She teases,
She laughs,
She listens,
She counsels,
She cries,
She prays,
She teaches,
Through it all,
She loves.

She never thought she’d amount to much,
But God gave her iridescent wings
And she flashes His glory everywhere she flies.

In her beautiful face
Shines the light of God.