April

April is a month when I tend to think of my mom more than any other month of the year.  Anyone who knew her, knew she loved April Fools' Day.  Last Sunday would have been her 85th birthday and she went to be with the Lord in April, 13 years ago now.

I have other friends who have lost their moms in April.  One a year ago and one just a few days ago. As I grieve with them, I am grateful that they, like me, will with time be able to miss their mom, but be able to mainly reflect on the benefits she brought in their lives, rather than mainly grieve their loss.

I know because we all had moms who poured greatly into our lives.  We each had mothers who put their faith and trust in the Lord and so we know that they are simply waiting to welcome us home. And I know, because with time, although I still miss her greatly, it is now with joy that I think on who she was instead of grieve over my loss.

Oh, it took me a (suprising) number of years before I stopped picking up the phone to call her before I remembered that she was gone.  It was a number of years before tears didn't accompany the songs sung at her funeral or those I remember her frequently playing at the piano.  But now when something happens that I know she would have loved or gotten a great laugh from, I look forward to sharing those things with her in the future.

Having shared a video on Facebok of an interview that one of our sons gave this week, with a friend commenting on how proud my parents would have been, I thought of how much they had poured into not only my life, but that of our boys as well.  Both of our sons can look to grandparents who nurtured them in the things of the Lord. And the godly men that they have become, although not the result of who their grandparents were, I'm confident was greatly impacted by the lives of their grandparents.

I think of godly Christian books given, the conversations shared around the table, dollars given for verses learned (yes, Jenn & Dawn, that's not a new idea originating from me, just copying a great idea!), lives lived that demonstrated what was most important in life. Plus a lot of fun and laughter.  How can you not benefit from grandparents like that??

And so, April is a special month for me.  Yes, it is the month that my mom went home to be with her Lord, too early for my liking, but it is a month to celebrate the life of a wonderful mom, grandma, wife and mentor.  And be challenged to be a woman like her.

And for the record, Mom, I tried, but didn't fool Bob, Daniel or either of our sons.  I did however catch a sister-in-law.  Oh well.  There's always next year.  Thank you, Mom, for making April such a special month.




Comments

Dorothy Ann Yanda said…
Your mom would have been delighted and blessed by these words Pam, and every word was so true. The gift of godly parents and grandparent is priceless, especially the kind that come equiped with music and laughter❣
April 29, 2016 at 11:31:00 PM EDT
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