Well, another Mothers’ day has passed and it brought back memories for me and probably for most of you of the wonderful, unconditional love of mothers. My mother raised 12 children in rather challenging times (putting it mildly) but I never heard her complain.
Many times, she experienced anxious moments waiting up late for us to return. We could have gotten word to her letting her know that we were safe and would be home soon, but it didn’t seem that important. And yet, when we did return, we were greeted with love.
She set marvelous examples, time after time, of the importance of kindness, understanding, forgiveness, and living those wisdom-filled words, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
I am so thankful that the Lord let her live long enough for me to give her at least a fraction of the positive recognition she so richly deserved. I took pleasure in writing this verse on her Mother’s Day cards:
“M is for the million things she gave me,
O means only that she’s growing old,
T is for the tears she shed to save me,
H is for a heart of purest gold,
E is for the eyes with lovelight gleaming,
R means right and right she’ll always be,
put them all together they spell MOTHER, a word that means the world to me.”
If your mother, or grandmother is still with us, be sure the words of the following song do not apply to her: “Rocking alone in an old rocking chair, I saw an old mother with silvery hair, she seemed so neglected by those who should care, rocking alone in an old rocking chair …
Bless her old heart, do you think she’d complain, though life has been bitter, she’d live it again, and carry the cross that’s much more than her share, rocking alone in an old rocking chair.”
And as if being blessed by the most wonderful mother in the world, the blessings have kept coming.
My Emma is the most loving wife any man could ever hope to have. I love to share the story of how God led me to her.
I was a young man who had gone to New York City to pursue an acting career. After several weeks of this effort, I came to the conclusion it would be best for me to head back home. This was on a Friday morning and, as I drove my little car down Broadway toward the Lincoln Tunnel, I spotted a coffee shop on the corner.
I parked my car and went into the shop, and picked up a newspaper that “just happened” to be open to the Want Ad Section.
The ad that caught my eye was for an office manager at The National Protestant Episcopal Church, a huge business complex in Manhattan.
I went for an interview, not really expecting to be hired, but after a very pleasant conversation with the human resources manager, I was asked to return that afternoon for their decision.
I was hired and was taken to the third floor operations department. The manager on that floor began taking me around to the various offices.
AND THAT’S WHEN THE MAGIC MOMENT OCCURRED!
Mr. Rabbage (a name I will always remember) said, “Come over here and meet my secretary.” It was then that I saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life, and it was truly “love at first sight.”
This was mid-July, and we were married the following November. The following February, I proudly brought her back with me to Kinston, and my reason for being began.
We now have three additional beautiful mothers in our family — daughter Jessica and daughters-in-law Lisa and Christie.
Emma and I both grew up in loving homes, and there is no greater blessing than that.
GOD BLESS MOTHERS EVERYWHERE!
Reece Gardner is the host of “The Reece Gardner Hour,” which airs on TACC-9 on Mondays at 9 p.m., Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays at 11 p.m., Sundays at 10:30 p.m.and on-demand anytime at TACC9.com. You can reach Reece at rbgej@aol.com.