Mama’s Lessons

     In celebration of Mother’s Day I have again been reminiscing about things that I am so happy that my mama taught me. There are so many things that my Mama taught me! Each lesson I cherish even more since she went to Heaven in 2014. I am reminded of her daily, from various people and events.

 I know the natural tendency when we have lost a loved one is to memorialize them in great stories and memories. We also seem often to remember them through rose colored glasses. We leave out all of the things we didn’t like, and speak fondly of the things we miss. 

Perhaps this tendency is one of the many graces that God has built into us to help us endure this life without our loved ones. 

Well, just like every mother on the planet, my mother had her fair share of flaws and shortcomings. Most of which I am frequently reminded of as I hear the “recordings” of her coming straight out of my mouth! I am constantly aware as I see my children do the same crazy things me, my brother, and sister did. If I don’t actually repeat her, I at least hear her voice LOUD (she was loud) and clear, saying… what I usually go ahead and say.

So, as an inadequate memorial, I have comprised a short list of life lessons that I am thankful Mama taught me. 

1.Biscuits & Gravy- 

       Now, she actually always went for the canned biscuits, but the art of gravy took some work for me! I remember one of the first Holiday seasons after Jeremy and I were married, I told Mama that  for Christmas I wanted her to come to my house and make gravy for breakfast. On Christmas morning that year, her and I made gravy. She mostly made me do it, which was better, because now, I can still have Mama’s Biscuits & Gravy. This is important to this Southern girl!

    

  2.  Reading Music-

       I love music! My mom passed her love & knowledge of music on to me. When I was in elementary school, she taught me the meanings of the notations and where they are on the piano. This sparked a great fire of music for me. Both my parents and my siblings sang in church and around the house. I am so glad that Mama shared that passion (and her guitar) with me. What a gift this has been in my life!

 

  3.  Attention to Detail-

        Whether it was sewing on a button, drawing, doing homework, or making a Homecoming mum(another Southern girl thing), she taught me that the details make a difference and can really set you apart. I know that she got this from her mom, my Grandma Sammy. I did enough sewing and cleaning with Grandma to know the details mattered! I have found this to remain true in my life in the fun hobbies that were handed down from these 2 ladies, but also in so many areas of life.

    My craft/sewing area with threadboard that was handed down. My great-grandma (Ada), my grandma (Sammy), my Mom (O’Leta) each passed on this practical piece. A tangible reminder of all the things passed to me by them.

  4. Pray About Everything-

I don’t think I could calculate the number of times my mom suggested to me that I should pray. Any time in was frustrated, upset, hurt, or confused, she could tell, and would tell me I needed to pray about it. It also didn’t matter how big or small the issue was, her help and advice always involved prayer. Teenage Drama? Pray. Lost T-Shirt? Pray. Missing earring? Pray. 

    When I was younger it would be frustrating because I wanted her to fix the problem, or find my stuff for me. When I finally quit pouting about the problem and talked to God, I always found a solution. Sometimes it was just not to worry about it and move on, sometimes I would actually remember where I left whatever I was missing. 

    This lesson has been so valuable because most of life’s troubles can’t be fixed by Mama. I did learn through this process that God cares about ALL problems, big and small. He will help you remember where you left your purse. He will help you know which church family to be a part of it. He will even help you know what to wear to work! 

     He is a God that cares, and wants to hear from you.

  I have to take a break from the list and explain the timing of why I am writing it now. I actually had the idea of writing this list to honor my mom a while ago, but was reminded about it this week. I was reading this week about the story of Philip, one of the Apostles of Jesus. 

    Reading of how Philip heard, knew, and obeyed the voice of God is what reminded me of this list I had wanted to write. I have often encountered people that struggle to hear the “voice of God”. My heart breaks for them! This struggle made me reflect on how I hear God. How did I learn this? 

5. Hearing God’s Voice-

        When I had times that I needed to hear from God my mom was so much help. She knew how God spoke to her- through the Bible, and in the still, small voice that speaks to our hearts. She shared this with me. Just like the conversations we had about prayer, our conversations often led me to not only pray but listen for God’s leading. She taught me of God’s peace about decisions in life. When I was an older teenager she not only encouraged me to pray about choices and decisions, she told me that I had to listen for the answer because she couldn’t hear God for me. She then trusted me to hear God, and believed me when I felt God lead me. The ability to hear God’s voice has more than influenced my life. This lesson has been a spiritual “life saver”. 

I pray that I can pass these lessons on to my children and others in the kingdom. (Everyone needs biscuits and gravy!). 

While there are countless lessons that I learned from my mom, the expectation and preparation to follow God has been the most valuable!