Rose Bush Memories and Pearls

As we approach Mother's Day, I've been doing a lot of thinking about how precious life really is. I've also been thinking about how so often I don't slow down long enough to really drink in all the great gifts that have been so freely given to me.

Growing up I don't remember life ever being quite so busy or scrambled as it often seems to me now. Do you remember when stores were closed on Sundays and Sunday was a day of rest?

Mother's Day morning, my daddy would always go out to the rose bushes in the yard and cut roses for my mama, sister and me to wear to church. As a little girl, I used to think how nice it would be to wear a fancy one from the florist with the netting behind it and a beautifully tied ribbon around the stem. Those roses meant more to both mama and daddy than just a symbol of Mother's Day. They were not only making memories for us, they were sharing their love with the roses they grew. Mama always wore white because her mother had passed away when I was just 5.

Even on Mother's Day morning, my mother would get up before church and cook Sunday dinner as she would call it, and we would all come home and eat together...no one went out. It was practically unheard of. No fancy gifts were exchanged. Although I do remember when I was in the 3rd grade I gave my teacher a quarter to have a pearl ring made for mama. Simple but sweet. To this day, mama still has that ring. Later in the day we would go to Grandma's house for homemade strawberry shortcake and sit on her porch for what seemed like a lifetime.

Times have changed. As a society I think so much emphasis has been placed on the bottom line that we've lost sight of the important things in our lives...the ones we love. We move too fast. Living life slowly wasn't so bad!

My mama has been such a blessing in my life. She is like a rock with a peaches and cream complexion! A prayer warrior and doesn't mind saying so and doing so. A woman that is proud of her faith and doesn't mind expressing it in her daily life. A child of God, a loving and supportive wife, a gentle mother that didn't mind breaking off a switch from time to time, a nurturing and guiding grandmother, and a sweet sister. Loved and treasured by all that know her.

I am so blessed to still have my mother. To this day at age 79, she still volunteers on a regular basis and visits the nursing home with the women's circle group from her church. Mama also goes out to lunch once a month with her retired friends that she worked with when she was a teacher assistant for 20 years. She's an avid reader, true southern bell that can whip up enough food for a small army in a split second. She's also a very gifted gardener! Friends and neighbors come and pick flowers from her flower garden during the spring and summer. To this day, she still helps daddy mow the yard! Go figure...I can't keep up with her. She runs circles around me.

Her life has been a journey of sickness and health, ups and downs, good times and bad, but she has persevered with grace. She has set the example that in Christ all things are possible. A true woman of God.


I love you mama!