How many times do we stop and think about all that our mothers do for us? I don't mean the expected things like keeping us safe, making our meals and meeting our physical needs, but really remembering all of the unexpected ones that only our mothers can give us. A sense of wonder. A longing for goodness. A love for animals. The love of music. Good education. The importance of health and wellness. But most of all, teaching us that we belong to God the father, who loves us dearly. These are the things that really matter, and any of us who have had these gifts handed down to us by our mothers, are truly fortunate. Fathers are important as well, because their role as head of the home is just as significant, but it is our mothers, who are the heart of the home, that bring us the gifts that we mentioned above. So it's a true blessing when they go far beyond the ordinary daily actions of care...
Our mother was like none other. I say this, because we were always very aware that she was not the usual mom, while all of the other mothers around us were. While they were busy fulfilling their daily “mom duties,” ours was focused on the world around us, both politically and spiritually. Not that she didn't fulfill her duties; she did, but she was always thinking deeper than that. While we were growing up, this was a bit troubling to us. Because while we saw other mothers doing the usual tasks of keeping the home, making meals and keeping a watchful eye on their kids, our mother was tuned in, in a much different way. Unbeknownst to us at the time, it was at a higher level of perception that we didn't appreciate until we were much older. She was very aware of what was going on in our world, and was extremely cautious, even distrusting of leadership in all forms. From the school principal all the way up to the president, she was very concerned about the plans of those who sought to indoctrinate the children, and therefore use them, to change our country from a free Capitalistic society to an oppressive one of Communism.
During our early years, we wished that our mom would just blend in like the others, fulfilling their positions of room mothers and carpool drivers, but that didn't happen. I remember the one and only time that my mom did the room mother's responsibility, and it was done in her usual way. Unlike the other moms who came in clean faced, hair pulled back and a comfortable pair of pants on, with maybe a dish of chocolate chip cookies, or some packaged treat, she arrived in full make-up, a skirted suit, jewelry and heels, with petit fours from the bakery. While I was concerned at how different it was, I have to admit that I was quite pleased when all of the kids remarked how beautiful she was and how delicious the treats were! Her desire to represent us like this, was not to be snobbish in any way. She was just the type of mom, who when she did something, she did it well. A perfectionist perhaps, but she really cared how she represented us. Because of a tough upbringing, along with her ties to English royalty, she was taught this way. As kids, we never saw the inside of a grocery store or tasted an oreo cookie until we were 18. She shopped exclusively at health food stores, and made us take a litany of different vitamins that she felt were important to our health. This was far beyond her time, as the foods were not quite as tainted as they are today. She was always very wary of those around her, due to her uncanny ability to read people, a trait that all of us children have today. While she may have seemed unapproachable, she only wished to set anyone straight who may have ulterior motives toward her family or our country. She used to point out the red star on the Texaco gas stations, saying that this was the goal; to inflict Communism on the United States. She was the original Moms for Liberty, as it was she, who questioned every paper that we had to fill out at school, that was prying into our family’s business. Needless to say, she was a rebel!
When we were still young, our mother removed us from the public school that sat right across the street from our home, choosing instead to drive many miles to a new Christian School called Westminster Academy, and then later took us to a more well-suited one called Christian Liberty Academy. It was in a church basement, and there were seven kids in my grade. Not class, but GRADE! This school is now world-wide, known for its homeschooling curriculum. Never in our lives, did we feel more Patriotic as we Praised God, and Prayed for the country where we were so fortunate to live! It was a true blessing. Our mother was the original Truth Teller, as she refused to just follow the crowd. As young children, I remember while being driven to the school so far away, holding up political signs in the back window of the car, supporting whatever Conservative Candidate was running that year. Most times, the people in the car behind us, just chuckled, and shook their heads, but whatever they thought, she was trying to raise us in the correct way!
What was truly exceptional about our mother, was that while she was a beautiful and very poised woman, she always chose the simple things in life; the right ones. This of course made a real impact on us. There was never an animal in need turned away from our home. She was a rescuer of sorts, and our home was always filled with sweet creatures. ServiceMaster was called to our home on a monthly basis, to make sure things were kept tidy. She even took in a rooster once, and we did not live on a farm! Having danced ballet in NYC, she always had classical music, and sometimes opera booming on our stereo. We were not allowed to watch mindless TV, but exceptions were made when she woke us in the middle of the night to watch excellent movies such as The Red Shoes Ballet, or Carousel. She didn't bake often, but when she did, it was healthful delicious delights such as homemade bread or blueberry muffins. The holidays were not about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, but rather the birth of Christ, His crucifixion on the cross and rising from the dead for us! She was an imperfect woman, like everyone, but she was perfect in important ways. When other mothers decided to go into the workplace, she stayed home to make us our lunches and help us with our homework. She didn't come to all of our extra-curricular activities, but when she had to make a Cleopatra headdress for a school play, or help make (an award-winning) castle cake for a school project, she always came through!
Our mother taught us that God does not want us to exist on earth to glorify ourselves through empty Achievements and Accomplishments, but rather to enjoy the simple and yet most important gifts that He had given us. And if we did achieve anything of importance, we should use that for His Glory! The reason that we have made the violet our theme this month, is because it has always been her favorite flower. We used to go pick handfuls of them for her, and she acted as if we had given her gold! While most women would see the rose as their flower of choice, our mom valued and loved the small, shy violet instead. When asked why, she said that while roses were bold and beautiful, violets symbolize modesty, faithfulness, virtue and innocence. They are also associated with remembrance, love and spiritual wisdom. A violet's petals are heart-shaped, and inside of each flower, is a tiny gold heart. Besides all of this, my mother had a Sunday school teacher named Violet, who gave her her first bible as a child, so that could have been why she felt such a connection with them. So during this Mother’s Day holiday, that is meant to recognize our mothers, when we stop and think about them, whether they are living or not, we hope that everyone realizes that our moms were a very important part of who we grew up to be. For that we should all be so thankful to God…that He gave us mothers and families as a reflection of His love! We wish a Happy Mothers Day to all of the dear mothers out there, both perfect and imperfect...God Bless you all, as you are perfect in His sight and in ours!
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