Happy Birthday to a Very Special Woman - My Mom

Today is my mother’s birthday. I won’t divulge her age partly because I don’t want to think about her advancing years (that increase at the same rate as mine). She has never acted her age for as long as I can remember. She has always had tons of energy and taken on herculean tasks and accomplished them well.

   Don’t get me wrong, you always knew how she felt on most issues. However,  she never harped on our wrong decisions. She always let us make the decision. I know how hard that must have been as I find myself wanting to preach to my kids who are in college. 

In recent years I have seen her slow down just a little. My mom has always been a shining example for me to follow of doing what’s right and never about doing anything for money. Another thing I love about my mother is she has never been preachy.

My mom is always generous to a fault. My earliest memory of how much impact she has had on others’ lives was on a cold snowy day on our way home from church. A man was getting out of his car with steam rolling out from under his hood. My mom slowed and when a woman with a small baby got out, she slammed on her brakes and pulled over. She drove an old station wagon and us kids (there were three) were relegated to the way back to give our guests room. 

My Mom took them home, which was only a few miles out of our way. I’ve never forgotten that lesson even though my dad was mad we were late when we got home and even  madder when he found out she picked up somebody on the side of the road because that wasn't safe. My mom’s only comment was: “It was what I would want to happen if it was me.” I’ve always tried to remember that lesson. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!