Feeling reflective with Mother’s Day around the corner, I realize that there are three great things my mother did for me as I grew up.

1. She listened to me. Oh, the hours we’ve spent chatting over the years! Since I’m one of those people who generally figures things out by talking through them, it has been a huge blessing to have a mom who listened.

2. She taught me to read and gave me good books. When I first started learning to read, I was convinced it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Thankfully, my mom stuck with me, and I started going after books like an ant after sugar cubes! That’s when she provided me with good books. One series that I still count among my favorites  is the Adventures of the Northwoods by Lois Walfrid Johnnson. It nourished my love for people and history. Here is an excerpt from the last book

Never had Kate had a dress that was so soft, nor so lovely. But something surprised her even more. In the reflection of the mirror she saw Mama standing on one side of her and Grandma on the other. Again Kate wondered if she would ever be a woman like them.

Then there was something she knew. It was their belief in God that made Mama and Grandma strong. Out of their love for Him came everything else they did.

~Disaster on Windy Hill, pg. 159, Lois Walfrid Johnson

3. That’s the third thing Mom did for me: as she shared God’s story with me, she showed me glimpses of His love. And it made her strong. There’s no better gift a mother could give. 

I am so blessed to have a Mom and Grandmas who all have known the Lord. If you weren’t given that particular gift, I hope you’ve had other godly women in your life who’ve invested in you. As Kate discovers in Disaster on Windy Hill when women have Christ, they are connected by something more than family resemblance.

With surprise Kate realized something. “I look like both of you!” 

“Yah,” Grandma said. Her smile was proud.

“But how can I?” Kate stared at their reflections. “I’m shorter than you, and each of us has a different color hair.”

“It’s something more,” Mama said, as though she wanted Kate to find out for herself.

A special thank-you to my mom, and all the mothers and mothers of the faith out there. You are treasured and loved. Happy Mother’s Day!