Tribute to Mothers this week: Mamma by Yvonne Jones

Mary Jo Hardy Hess, a baby in her Mamma’s arms

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; II Corinthians 1:3

Mamma. Mother of four. We the four seasons. Stair steps born in quick succession. As the seasons meet, storms brew and the landscape morphs and the snapshot in our mind changes and colors our perception. If you were to ask the four of us about our Mom you would be introduced to four different sides of this deeply complex child of God. This is my, the eldest of the four, view. This is how I see this most beautiful soul.

 

I compare her to Silly Putty. She would fill the space she was placed in with silent, submissive (not always happy) acquiescence. She would snap if pulled in opposite directions too quickly. She would bounce like a ball when thrown against a hard place. She could accept the imprint of a picture, printed word, a thumb. The thing about Silly Putty is it comes in an egg shaped container, the very picture of new life and resilience: Hard on the outside to protect the soft, fragile and tender, vulnerable heart on the inside. Silly Putty: glue and starch combined to give unique qualities needed to survive her life.

“Jo” as a young tween

 

From my earliest remembrance Mamma rarely looked “happy.” I often wondered why she was mad at me. Later, as I grew older, I would come to understand she suffered from debilitating headaches and several chronic immunological conditions leaving her miserable in her own skin, to say the least. She was fearful of snakes, storms, the water, and of not being “enough.” There was no time to go to bed and not enough resources to seek as much medical attention as she needed. She had four hungry and busy children to care for in the absence of my Daddy who worked either far away from home or twelve to sixteen hours a day to make ends meet. Then, she was left alone, a widow, and would remain so for thirty years.

 

Mamma joined Daddy in our “cloud” on a warm summer solstice day in 2001. I never recall Mamma reading me Bible stories or “preaching” to me. She did make sure I got to church for Sunday School, Youth, choir, Bible study, and anything else I wanted to participate in. What I recall clearly is her preparation for Vacation Bible School, her Sunday school class, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and her sitting up in her bed surrounded by her books as she studied for her Bible Studies Certificate from Moody Bible College. She completed this through what we now call online studies but her’s was all through the mail (long distance learning). She refused to pass on her fears to her children; she allowed my brother to have pets snakes, we sat and watched storms on our front porch, learned to swim, and she did her best to convey we were enough just as we were. Her heart was that of a lioness: courageous, loyal, strong, domineering, protective, and resourceful. She also had a “paw” that would swipe you sideways to keep you in line.

 

I admire and adore this special one. It has been seventeen years and the days prior to her death were so difficult as we watched her struggle for every breath and slowly slip away; the memory leaves a lump in my throat…….. She died within sight of the place where she met my Daddy for the first time and told him goodbye the last time: Mobile Bay’s shipyard.

Mamma helped me learn to cook, sew, craft, and love God’s Word. She encouraged me to be my best, supported my activities as much as possible with her presence, and was honest in her review of homework assignments, art projects, and life choices. She was a stay-at-home mom for all my growing up years but my younger siblings had to give her up to the workforce after Daddy died. This tower of strength, returned to school, became a nurse and provided for herself and us.

“In James 2:14-26, James writes a dissertation on “faith without works is dead.” These scriptures sum up who Mamma was. She did not talk much about her faith, she just lived it in quiet determination. She was direct with me! She exhibited this very concept the night I gave my life to Jesus. I was encouraged to “share the good news” with my parents. I rushed home eager to tell Mamma. It was met with these pointed words: “Well, I certainly hope it helps your attitude here at home!” And she turned and walked off to the next chore. I was stunned. Not, exactly what I was expecting. I don’t think I even bothered to tell my Dad. I have NO IDEA what I did that night prior to going to church but it could not have been good. The point is this, not her reaction, but what she was telling me. She was telling me words are cheap. Action is what proves what you are saying.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:6) Actions must match our words in the secret and the seen. Lesson 101. Check! But, at times, I still need a refresher!

 

 

 

A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.  Proverbs 16:31

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 14:24 describes her best: “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:” The Lord is sovereign. She believed she had the life God planned for her and she was content in this. Mamma knew she was headed home. She was ready. She knew where she was going and that Jesus would meet her there. She left us in His Mighty Hands trusting Him to answer her prayers and give her the desires of her heart. (Psalm 34:7) The stone of faith added to my path by this remarkable woman was this: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” (Hebrews 11:1). Trust God! This is a firm foundation on which I stand.

The biggest fans of four offspring are now seated, reunited, high in the stadium! They will cheer us to the finish line. Happy Mother’s Day, Mamma. I love you!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

More Than Enough by Shawna Edwards

(TISSUE ALERT!)

Yvonne Jones

(Recipe for homemade Silly Putty: 1 TBSP Elmer’s School Glue and 1 TBSP liquid starch. Mix well and knead into a ball. A bit messy but so much fun! Store in a plastic Easter egg.) Glue holds things together and starch adds strength to stand up to heat and pressure.

Describe your mom in one WORD and share it with us!

Reminder: If you haven’t given your “word” for the year in the comments, the drawing for the myintent bracelet will be next week.  Just leave your name and the word God has emphasized this year in your life.