An Ode to my mom

This time of year always makes me a little sad and I find myself breaking out old photo albums and reminiscing of years past. Since Mothers Day is Sunday, I have been thinking a lot about my mom. We were talking in my college and career group last night about how time is fleeting and how you never know how long you have to live on this earth. Depressing, huh? But, we were also talking about Phillipians and how even though Paul was in prison and facing death, he remained joyful and praised God!! Then, Jon (my singles Pastor) told us of a very prestigious surgeon in the area who is a devout man of God, and lives Christ out in his life. He found out a few weeks ago that he contracted Hepatitis C and doesn't know how long he has to live. He has a wife and three small children. Well, the human thing to do would be to cry and scream and plead with God while yelling out things such as "Why does this have to happen to me" and "Why did you do this to me, God?" Well, this doctor was joyful and telling everyone he met about Jesus, days after finding out he had a deadly disease. WOW!!

Well, this is how my mom was. She found out she had cancer in January of 1999. She was a parapro for Special Education at Winder-Barrow High School. She started chemo treatements a few days after her diagnosis. But, you would never know she had cancer based on her attitude. She went to school everyday, loved her job and those kids, and always had a smile on her face. Even when she was weak, pale and sick, she would tell me it's gonna be ok. I was and am still amazed at her character and attitude. She had the attitude of a verse in Romans that is dear to my heart-" Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." This was her life. She was a living example of Christ.

She taught me to love everyone, regardless of their situation, attitude or how they have treated others.
She taught me to never give up, even when times are hard.
She taught me to never take life for granted, life is fleeting and to make each day count.
She told me I was beautiful, that she loved me and was proud of me.
People tell me that I remind them of her, or that I look like her.
I hope and pray that I can be even half the woman she was.
My mom is my hero and I miss her and love her dearly.

So, on this Mothers Day and every day after, tell the people in your life that you love them and show them how important they are to you. Because, you never realize how much you love someone and how much they mean to you, until they are gone.

I love you mom!!!