One of a kind mothers & Happy Mother’s Day

May 10, 2015May 10, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

As Mother’s Day is approaching, I find it fitting I talk about some special mothers.

My grandmothers had hearts of a servant. My Mamaw could not sit & enjoy much of anything when it came to meal time. Meal time was her time to shine. She was a wonderful cook. When you were at her house, you were her guest. And let me tell you, she was not going to have her guest WANT for anything. She was just not that kind of hostess. When we ate, she would sit beside my Papaw. There she was at the best angle to hop up & get anything you would need. If you needed a spoon, she could hop up & be at the silverware drawer in an instant. If you needed more sweet tea, the jug was on the counter right behind her. She thoroughly enjoyed serving her family & friends. Not just at mealtime, but whatever we needed, she was there with helping hands. She sewed for us, she gardened, she made quilts, so that we could keep warm in the winter, she tended to chickens, cows, and the occasional dog or cat. Most importantly, she tended to people. She kept her grandchildren during the summer & after school. And any other time in between. She visited & sat with people who were sick. Thank the Good Lord my Papaw passed on before her. He would have been completely useless without her. She did everything for him. When he worked at the TVA, she got up every morning & made him biscuits, eggs, & some sort of porkish meat. These weren’t my beloved frozen biscuits or canned biscuits. These were the real deal. Every day. When my Mama got so sick, she came & sat with her every day. She cooked, cleaned, & took care of Mama until Mamaw passed away suddenly one night in her sleep. That’s just who she was. A wonderful Christian servant at heart.

My Mama Boyce was also a true servant. She had 10 children. She pretty much lived for her family. She cooked & cleaned & took care of chickens, dogs, cats, & what have you. She gardened like nobody’s business. This little lady had a green thumb if I’ve ever seen one. She had the most beautiful roses I’d ever seen. To this day, I tell you, I’ve never seen one as pretty. She loved flowers & plants. She cooked the best green beans I have ever put in my mouth. She enjoyed having us at her house. She took such good care of us. Sometimes to a fault. I can remember being young & getting in trouble for sitting in the living room calling to her to bring me a drink or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich or whatever it was my little heart desired. My daddy told me my grandmother was NOT there to wait on me hand & foot. That I should get up & get what I needed for myself. Funny how he would have even known about this behavior except I probably made my brother mad & he spilled the beans about my bossy pants. She kept her house spotless. She was always willing to help others, just like it was her job. She was so humble, too. That only comes from the heart of a servant.

Luke 22:27 says

²⁷For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Joshua made sure he served the right One.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Jesus had no trouble telling the devil Who to serve:

Matthew 4:10

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Growing up, I am so blessed to have had faithful women around me. My Mama, Mamaw, Mama Boyce, & mother in law all served a great God. They laid the foundation for our family. They are the reasons I do a lot of the things I do today. They taught me how to treat others. They taught me how to handle difficulties in life. By their examples, they taught me how to be a good wife & mother. Because they were the BEST. All of the before mentioned have passed on. If your mother, grandmother or someone who was like a mother or grandmother to you is still with you, be sure to let them know you love them. Not just on Mother’s Day, but as often as you can. I know they will be so glad you did. AND let us not forget those who are “motherless” on Mother’s Day. That can prove to be a tough day. A kind word to those of us can be deeply appreciated as well.

I hope you have a blessed day today. I am so thankful you dropped by. What will you be doing this Mother’s Day weekend? We will have kids & grandkids over. When they are around, the interesting level at my house hits an all time high. It is always a fun time! Until then, I will be going, because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: pinterest

Happy Mother’s Day & why Mother’s Day is hard

May 9, 2014May 9, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Sunday is Mother’s Day. I hope you have made plans to honor mothers this weekend. For some people, Mother’s Day can be a hard day. This week a friend shared with me how he dreaded Mother’s Day every year. He counted up & said his mama had passed away some 30 years ago. Still the sting of Mother’s Day is ever present, for him. I understand what my friend is saying. My mama passed away almost 12 years ago. At any time, on any day, I would give anything to see her just one last time. Mother’s Day is a reminder, my mama is not here for me to celebrate her. My mother-in-law was just like a mother to me. She is also deceased. She was such a terrific person, smart, and strong. I miss her so much. My two grandmothers were important in my life, as well. They molded me into the person I am today. There is no way I could ever stand idly by as weather got bad. My Mama Boyce taught us that caution is the best cure to uncertainty. And that’s with anything in life. She was a careful planner when it came to things. Because you just never know when something might happen. You need to be prepared. My Mamaw taught me that love is the most important thing in the world. She loved me & her other grandchildren like there was no tomorrow. Each one of us held a special place in her heart. You can ask any of my cousins about our Mamaw. They will be glad to tell you how she had the talent of making people feel loved. Like they were the most important thing in the world to her. She knew how to treat people. Salt of the earth, she was.

Just like my friend, I have had years that were really hard on Mother’s Day. However, I do have kids & it’s hard to be sad when they are standing there bearing gifts & smiles in my honor! Here the past few years I have tried to do a better job of having a kinder attitude toward Mother’s Day. However, in the end, it’s all still the same, I miss my mama, my mother-in-law, & my sweet grandmothers.

One thing that is comforting is that these wonderful ladies were God fearing, Christian women. Let’s look to the things the Bible says a Godly mother is:

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

v.25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Recently, another friend was sharing some things her grandmother had said to her. It was kind and thoughtful words that only a grandmother can impart. I told her there was no love like that of a grandmother or mother. If you have a mother, grandmother, special aunt, or friend still living, please make an effort to acknowledge them on this special day. I know they will love you for it! It will be a special Mother’s Day for my daughter, because it is her first Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to remember those wonderful mothers who have already passed away & their children- who may not love this day. Your compassion toward those folks are what makes you precious!

I hope you are having a wonderful week. Skies are going to be cloudy & rainy this weekend in our neck of the woods. That will give me some time to catch up on some things in the house. I hope you have a terrific Mother’s Day! However, I have to go for now, because I should be washing clothes.

photo credit: homeliving.blogspot.com, sew country chick

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2012May 12, 2012 / kstrick7 / 4 Comments

Sunday is Mother’s Day. A time to honor our mothers. For those of us, who’s mothers are passed away, it sometimes can be a difficult time. I have so many fond memories of my mother. I don’t want to make you cry, like Bubba Watson did, when he won the Masters. But if you saw it, who was the 1^st one out to him once he made that last putt? His mama. He hugged her & bawled like a baby. I can appreciate that. I loved my Mama like that. That’s why I suppose Mother’s Day can be so hard. Because I do miss her just as much now, as when she passed away.

I have been fortunate to have been loved by many mothers. My own, of course, but my Mamaw, my Mama B., special aunts, & my mother in law. All these wonderful ladies were & are strong women. They taught me how to love my kids & other kids, too. They gave me values, & taught me how to act. They made sure I did not shame my family by leaving home, without knowing how to cook. They went to church, they loved their neighbors, they took meals to the sick, shut in & those that lost family members. They gave spankings & hugs. They feared God. They have all been fine examples of what a wonderful Southern mother should be.

In Proverbs it tells of a virtuous woman. It says:

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies.

In the following verses it tells what she does:

She is good to her husband.
She works.

She provides food for whoever is in her house.

She strengthens herself.

She helps the poor.

She speaks words with wisdom.
She watches over her household & is not idle.
She has her children & husband’s respect.

v.30 She fears God.

This is a terrific description that we should try to live by. The ladies that I have spoken of above have conquered this list. My prayer is that every lady strives to be as the virtuous woman. It makes our houses much better to live in. It brings happiness to our lives & the lives of others. We should respect others & respect ourselves. We should practice peace & love toward others. The attitudes we cultivate can have a powerful effect on others. Ask God to help you find reasons to rejoice instead of complain. Respond to difficult situations with calm faith & trust God’s will.

May 24^th, 2012 will mark 10 years since my Mama has passed away. She was a remarkable woman. I only pray that I can carry on the way she & my other female influences have taught me. The author Rick Bragg said in a Southern Living article, “You never outgrow the need for your mother’s love.” Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend, make a way to show that special mother like love to others. If your mother is still living, please make an effort to see or talk to her this Mother’s Day. I know she will be glad you did. Happy Mother’s Day to all!

I hope you have enjoyed this post . Maybe it has inspired you in some way. I would love to write more, but right now I have to go, because I should be washing clothes……

Me & Mama when I was about 6 years old