Dear Mom
What makes your mother special to you?
“For most of my childhood my mother was the sole caretaker and provider for me and my brother. Her example taught me about strength and hard work, as well as the fact that with God’s help we can accomplish more than we ever thought we could.”
Tamara Valley
Houston, Texas
“One thing that I learned from my mom is the lesson of faith. When I encountered failure, she would cheer me up by saying, ‘Maybe it’s not for you, and surely God has something better.’ This was always coupled with the reminder that as long as I live God’s way and put my trust in Him, He would always provide what’s best for me, even though I may not see it that way.”
Andrei Siopan
Auckland, New Zealand
“My mom always pushes me to set high goals and encourages me along every step of the way. She is my personal motivator and cheerleader, and she sets a wonderful example of what I can become. She showed me the importance of putting God first in my life and always quotes encouraging scriptures to lift me up. She truly inspires me to be a better person and daughter of God.”
Tatiana Meeker
Cincinnati, Ohio
“We’ve learned from our mom that service is more rewarding than being served. Mom shows love continuously, from 38 years of cooking meals (for up to six boys at a time) to coordinating bridal or wedding showers and other events for people at Church to watching grandchildren so that we boys could attend a parenting seminar. Mom is truly a shining example of service. Plus, she always has yogurt-covered raisins.”
Guye, Gregg, Garett, Grant, Gordon and Glade Pennington
Corydon, Indiana
“My mother has always set a very fine example of expressing her love for family through her actions. As mentioned in 1 John 3:18, her example taught me that our deeds speak much louder than our words. I treasure the relationship that we’ve developed through the years.”
James Ellis
Gladewater, Texas
“I am thankful for my mother’s love for us and her hard work and determination. When my parents got divorced, my mom, siblings and I left our house and moved to an apartment. She had not been in the workforce for years because she was a stay-at-home mom. Even though it made her physically sick every morning before she went to work because of anxiety, she went to work every day anyway, so that she could provide for us. I love my mom very much and she will always be my best friend!”
Rachel Stark
Kingsport, Tennessee
“I am thankful for the faithful example of my mother. She lived through many hardships, but her faith in God never wavered. She lived through the death of several children and then developed bone cancer and experienced incredible pain. I never heard anything bitter from her mouth about what she experienced. She died when I was 26. Many times when I have faced trials, I’ve remembered her faithfulness and tried to follow her example.”
Gerry Lynd
Dallas, Texas
“Throughout my entire life, my mom has shown an inner strength that blossoms from her relationship with God. This strength and reliance on God has guided her to serve not only her family, but anyone who has a need. She is the first to respond to any situation with a beautiful spirit of service and outgoing concern. She is one of my closest and best friends and such an amazing mother!”
Elizabeth Adolphi
DeWitt, Iowa
“My mother always gave her all for her family, but also to anyone she came in contact with. As quiet as her nature was, she also always showed kindness, and never ceased in serving wherever she could. She harbored no ill will for others, and for those who did wrong to her, she was always quick to forgive, never bringing the matter up again. She never judged others by their appearance, but only by their actions. For these rare qualities, she is always with me in my thoughts—my mother will always be special to me.”
Courtney Hall
Allen, Texas
“My mother wisely instructed me how to treat and view others when I was younger; but I learned the most just by watching her example—how she treated and viewed others. She was always, and still is, filled with tremendous kindness, patience, mercy and concern for people. I’m thankful I have such an example to look up to; and I’d be very happy to turn out anything like her.”
Amy Foster
Arnold, Missouri
“My mother taught me about strength. I watched her go through such a difficult time in her life. When everyone else would have given up, I watched her get stronger. She put 100 percent of her trust in God. That taught me where our strength comes from.”
Autumn Smith
West Salem, Ohio
“The biggest lesson that I have learned from my mother is what loving service really is. Her constant example has done more to show me what love and service are than any lecture or presentation could ever hope to do. Of all of the many lessons that she’s taught me, this is the biggest one that I’m still trying to learn.”
Joshua Travers
Athens, Ohio
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