Since this weekend is Mother’s Day, I thought I’d share about one of my best friends and role models in this world: my mom :) Now that I’m married and live in a different state than my parents, I don’t get to see my parents a whole lot…but I often reflect on the difference they have made in my life.
Here are three of many things my mom taught me!
1. Put Jesus first, your husband second, others third, and yourself last.
One thing I really admire about my mom is how much she values spending time with Jesus each morning. It’s so easy to jump out of bed with our to-do list, forgetting that the Creator of the world wants to talk with us! But somehow amidst her crazy busy days, my mom has always set a great example of Matthew 6:33 (“seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”).
With three of her four kids over the age of 18, you’d think my mom would have more time to herself. She could be out shopping and getting her nails done, but no…she is always doing something to serve our family or other people. She rarely gets a free moment to herself and genuinely lives out Philippians 2:3 (“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”) in all that she does. Through her example, one of the things my mom taught me is that spending time with people is ALWAYS more worth it than doing whatever else I might feel is more important at the time.
2. Break the cycle.
As a little girl, I remember my mom telling me that sometimes marriage is a cycle. If you and your spouse are in an argument or if you aren’t feeling loved, it might be because your husband isn’t feeling respected…and all it takes is ONE person to break that cycle. Now that I’m married, I see now more than ever how that is true. When Hudson and I get in an argument, I usually know in the back of my mind that if I’d just apologize and start showing him the respect he deserves (even if I think I’m right), then the argument would end. But instead, I usually convince myself it’d be better to wait for HIM to apologize…?! All it takes is one person to break that cycle.
3. Be a light.
My mom prayed with me before school each morning, from kindergarten through high school. She’d pray for different things, but one thing she’d always say is that “I pray that other people will see a difference in her – and the difference is that she loves You, Jesus.” Every morning, I was reminded that I had a purpose for each day…not to do well in school or to have a lot of friends (although those things weren’t bad :) but to be a light for Jesus. I see that in the way my mom interacts with other people…how she goes out of her way to return a cart for an expectant mother at the grocery store, or to strike up a conversation with someone random at the gas station. She loves people and takes the time to listen to their life stories instead of thinking about herself. And through that, she shows others the love of Christ and inspires me to do the same.
Thanks for everything you’ve taught me, Mommy. I love you so much!
