Dear child! a faithful mother's love
For thee will toil, and watch, and pray;
An angel hovering still above
Thy couch by night, thy steps by day.
Oh, think how oft thy lips have pressed
Her breast! how oft thine arms have clung
Around her neck, while to her heart
She clasped thee close, and sweetly sung!
When fever's burning flush suffused
Thy cheek, and heaved thy panting chest,
Thou rest or refuge all refused
Save mother's arms and mother's breast.
And she would sit with tangled hair,
With haggard cheeks and heavy eyes,
Tend all thy wants with loving care,
And soothe thy pains and hush thy cries.
And she would whisper in thy ear,
And press upon thy infant mind
The name, the love of Jesus dear,
And God, thy Father, good and kind.
The pouting lip, the pert reply,
The sullen brow, the stubborn will,
Will dim with tears thy mother's eye,
And her fond heart with anguish fill
The smiling lip, the ready yes,
The sunny brow of cheerful love;
What balm for mother's heart like this?
What dearer blessing can she prove?
Is she a widow? doubly dear
Be she to thee; when griefs assail,
Kiss thou away each mournful tear,
That wanders down her cheek so pale.
A faithful God, the first, the best —
The next a faithful mother's love;
Thou shalt, dear child, of these possessed,
Be safe on earth and blest above.
by Janet Hamilton
Mom’s three children visited her this past week, together. We teamed up to attend a meeting with a few of the WWs facility staff to learn how Mom is adjusting to her new home since being moved to the Health Center in January for more attentive care. She lost her ability to walk back in November, so she now uses a wheelchair, and receives more help with daily living skills.
We’re very thankful and relieved she’s receiving more assistance and care. The staff has been wonderful for Mom. They reported she has transitioned well and has accepted all the change with a very pleasant attitude. Of course, we were thrilled to learn this, because we’d hoped she would enjoy transitioning to the Health Center.
In our conversation with the staff, we discussed the many changes Mom experienced as a military wife, how she experienced several moves with Dad’s reassignments.
She happily moved to Paris, France as a newlywed. Dad always said, “We honeymooned in Paris for three years” and while there, they welcomed a son, Tommy, to their family.
After three years serving overseas, Dad was transferred back to the states. They lived in Orlando, FL for a brief two years before being transferred abroad again to Newfoundland, where they added two additional children: me and my brother, Mark. We lived in Canada for three+ years. Then from there, Dad was transferred to Omaha, NE. We lived there for another 3 1/2 yrs before Dad retired after serving 20 years in the Air Force. From there our family moved back to the south where our family roots were first established, and has since continued to grow.
We spoke of these changes with the WWs staff we met with that day. Mom commented of us sharing a wonderful life together. She’s right!! Yet sadly, she doesn’t always remember Dad. She refers to him as “That man in the picture”, or she’s asked, “Do you see that man standing next to me in that picture? Is he my husband?” “Where is my husband?”
“Mom, Dad moved to Heaven. He’s with Jesus. Remember? He passed away within 24 hours after falling the week Matthew and Grace married.”
The large wedding photo hanging on Mom's bedroom wall has reminded us all of how very thankful we will always be for God’s mercy! The LORD sustained them! The covenant love Mom and Dad shared for 65 years is a true testament of the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness. They grew in His love for one another, biblically, sacrificially, and selflessly. Not perfectly, but obediently!
The LORD is good!!
My brother pulled up a picture on his phone, and showed it to Mom. He asked, “Mom, who is this lady in this picture?”
Mom replied, “My mother.”
Mark asked, “So you know who she is?”
Mom replied, “Of course. She’s my mother.”
I have recalled this over and over since Thursday! I have pondered these last few years since Mom’s memory of Dad has diminished, of how surprising it is that they shared 65 years together, yet many of her memories of him are lost. Well, maybe not hopelessly lost, but definitely displaced, making them difficult to recall.
How is it that she lived far less time in the home of her mom and dad before getting married at 18, yet she still remembers them. She continued to have a generous and honorable purpose and calling to love her parents until they died, for many years, even through circumstances that strained their relating.
When Grannie Thelma began having problems with her health and memory, Mom and Aunt Faye, along with their husbands, loved her well.
It has moved me to remember how loyal and committed Mom was to her mother and husband during their last years here on earth.
I desire to love Mom as generously, by God's grace. “We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:7-21 tells us how and why love honors and serves, because He first loved us. He loved us sacrificially and most memorably.
Photo: Sylvia, Grannie Thelma, and Tommy, together, in Paris, France.
