"She"

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs without fear of the future.  When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.  She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.  Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her:  'There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!'  Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.  Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."

She was born into this world some few years ago.  She was raised by a mother and father that I will forever be grateful for, and sisters who not only influence(d) her life but also mine.  She was first raised under a roof in which there was no indoor restroom, where life was more work than play, and where true appreciation for all commodities in life were worked hard for.  She was raised up with the understanding that nothing in life comes free - work ethic was everything, and laziness was nonexistent.  In high school, sports and competitiveness ran through her veins like a wild fire that has still yet to have burned out.  However, from my point of view, this "wild fire" was for the wrong team.  She couldn't figure out for many ears that the Elk was far greater and would always out win the Cardinal.  But, eventually, once entering into the App State world, She became brilliant!  She realized the beauty found within falling into love with a "Buckin Elk."  As She stood beautifully in white, to marry her groom, She had no idea the plan that the Father had in mind for the two of them.  But, the one thing She did know was that She was beaming with love for a man the Father had so graciously given her.  She then gave birth to two girls.  Girls that She treated like her whole world - girls She would die to do anything and everything for.  She was their number one.  But just as She thought life was going great, just as She thought She had a hold on life, just as She thought She was strong...She realized just how strong She had to become.  As her husband battled with and lost his life to cancer, She didn't once back down.  She stood by his side, She stood by her girls side....Through sleepless nights in the hospital or in a bed with two young girls, She kept herself pulled together always.  Although her heart was crumbling on the inside, She never once showed weakness on the outside.  Although She should have been crying on the shoulders of others, other cried on hers.  When quitting was an acceptable thing to do, She pushed past perseverance - She overcame!  She never quit, She never gave up!  Bills were never late.  Food was never not on the table.  Clothes were never not provided.  Instead, everything provided...everything and more.  She did whatever it took to make a difficult time easy.  She went to work before the sun came up, so that She could come home and coach her girls in sports, cook dinner, wash clothes...and do it all again the next day.  She pinched pennies where She had to, only pinching from the areas that affected her only, so that She could better provide everything for her girls.  She was their hero.  But, there came a day that She had to start thinking of herself again.  A much deserved day, but one in which took time and adjustment for her girls.  As She began to see someone, life became beautiful and hard all at the same time.  As She was growing more and more in love with this man, her girls were growing more and more apart from her - due to their (okay, my) selfish ways.  But, it was during this time that yet again, She thrived.  She stood knowing who She was, what She felt in her heart - for both him and her girls - and She did what She knew was best.  She fought.  She fought to show her love to her girls and to the man who had stolen her heart.  She went through hell and back again, for a man that She knew the Father was blessing her with.  But, it was through this time, that She showed and displayed true forgiveness.  Although it took year for her oldest to accept, and although She had no reason to excuse the actions and words from her oldest during these years.  It was through these years that She ever so perfectly displayed unconditional, forgiving, selfless love - A love that if modeled by the rest of the world, would lead to a beautiful, peaceful place.  And for that, She is called Peacemaker.  But, as if that wasn't enough to show the strength She had, to show the love She had...Just as She began to think that She finally had a perfect family again - a family in which laughter now ruled the house, a family in which love was overflowing in, a family in which hugs followed by "I love you's" were the norm - She was notified that the c word - cancer - had crept back into her family.  As her second husband was diagnosed with a very rapid, rare form of cancer - She pulled up her boots and She did not back down.  No, She realized that She had two options - to curl up into a ball and give up, or to stand tall, not backing down.  She chose the latter.  Today, and for the past six months, She has gone to appointment after appointment, filled with mostly hard news; but, She hasn't sat and wept for days - No, She has grown more and more in love with the man that the Father has blessed her with.  Since the beginning She grabbed his hand, She has grabbed all of her children's hands, and She has stood tall.  In a time where yet again a break down could be perfectly acceptable, She has kept herself together.  She has provided words of encouragement, She has rose from sleepless nights ready for another day, She has remained the woman that She has always been.  She has remained fearless.  She has remained powerful.  She has remained bold.  She has remained strong.  She has remained selfless. 

...And, ask her WHY...Why has She been able to remain this way through this roller coaster of a life?  How has She found peace in moments of darkness?  Because, at a young age, She knew who made her.  She realized the importance of the church body, and it is through Him and the people that He has blessed her with, that She is who She is today...

Perhaps Proverbs 31 is the overused, go-to scripture for women today.  But, in my opinion, SHE IS Proverbs 31.  I do not know a woman who has more strength and dignity than She.  I do not know a woman who has more wisdom, and displays kindness anymore than She.  I do not know a woman who works any harder to provide first for her family, for others, and then always putting herself last.  I do not know a more virtuous woman.  I do not know a woman who has more beauty on both the inside and outside than She does.  I do not know a woman who has more faith, and who has grown, in times of trial, in her faith more than She. 

I do not know a more Godly, more beautiful woman than She.  And I could not be more proud that SHE is MY Mother! 

We love you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day!