To Be Like Her

I think I was about thirteen, but I remember it well. I stood leaning on the laundry room door watching as my mom was working with my sister on an art project. It was looking really good. They were working together on a painting of the spaceship Challenger, capturing the image of takeoff perfectly. It was almost life like. Standing majestically with steam surrounding the base of the aircraft and the bright flare of the rocket engines making it look like it was going to shoot right off the canvas. It was a masterpiece.

As I stood there watching my mom working with my sister I remember thinking that it seemed like there was nothing she couldn’t do, and how neat it was that she encouraged us in whatever interests we came up with. And not only that she took the time to help us pursue our passions, even if they were short lived. I wanted to be just like her.

Our mom was strong and loving, she seemed to conquer whatever challenge was thrown at her with grace. She was kind, yet firm in her convictions. She could paint, sew, write, speak, she could cook…well sorta, and she could fix almost anything that broke. She was a great support and encouragement to everyone around her, but always put her husband and children first, she held us accountable and taught us well. She was a great wife, a wonderful mother, a godly woman, and a loyal friend.

Today as I was reading Philippians 2 verses 3 and 4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above your selves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

I can see my mom’s life in these verses and I understand that who she was and why she had such an impact on so many, is because her life mirrored Jesus and reflected His love.

As an adult I still wish I were more like my mom in many ways, but most of all I want to be like Jesus.

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