On Mothers and Others

This weekend I heard beautiful words from a seasoned mother.

A mother who never had children.

She shared at our ladies’ spring brunch, a message on mentoring that was the best I’ve ever heard. She spoke with conviction, humility, grace, honesty, truth. I wanted her to take me home and teach me everything she knows.

She shared her amazing testimony, of submitting to her difficult husband and therefore having no children. She has never physically born a child.

But she has dozens and dozens of children. She is, in the truest sense, a mother.

She has dozens of “mereas”, as she calls them, Hebrew for “friend” in the context of mentoring. Her stories brought tears to my eyes, what a beautiful example of someone who chose to not be bitter over her trials, but rather to be better and to use them all to bless others and bring glory to her God.

This got me thinking about the Mothers and Others who I am so thankful for this day:

“I am reminded or your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. (2 Timothy 1:5)

Francis Zoet. My grandma, my mother’s mother. The source of my faith. Her memory is so clear in my mind. Her laughter, smile, frugality, and overwhelming devotion to my grandpa.  She died when I was ten, and at 9:09pm a night shortly after, I heard the LORD speak for the very first time.  Woman of faith.  A simple call to carry on her legacy as a woman after God’s heart.  Oh Grandma, I haven’t always been strong but I pray pray pray I can walk as best as I can in your footsteps. You are amazing. I remember your very last few breaths, you gasping out, “Bye!” I was just a child but you were the closest thing to Jesus that I’d ever known. I love you and miss you still, 21 years later.

Karen Zyp. Of course, my own dear mother. Who has shaped my life more than anyone on earth. My best friend (next to Jeff!), my hero. Her courage, humility, grace is overwhelming.  She showed me what it looked like to love your husband, love your children.  I have never met another person as patient, humble, listening, gracious, sincere, tender, as you. Obviously this is true because everyone wants to claim you as their own! But you are MY mom, please remember this. I am so proud of how you persevered, by God’s strength, through all the suffering of the past 6 months. You amaze me. So thankful to spend this day with you.

~

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him…        (Prov. 31:1)

Janie Adams. The woman who raised my amazing husband. Wow. She must have done something right because she raised a modern-day knight. And, she continues to honor and bless me by her role in my life. She is supportive, gracious, encouraging, and inspiring. Her faith and grace in the midst of adversity amazes me. She truly is an example to all around her. Thank you, Momma, for welcoming me as a daughter. I’m so proud you’re my MIL!

~

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become dear to us. (1 Thess 2:7-8)

Darcy Sugai. I remember reading this very passage, lying on the carpet in Darcy’s house. She was teaching me about discipleship in more ways than one. This amazing woman took me under her wing, during an exceptionally painful season in her life when the Lord had not given her children. She and her husband poured into my life. They took me along to Brasil as they planted a church there, they met with me weekly, and even hosted the 6am weekly prayer meeting for all of us college students who were halfway asleep the whole time. She pursued me even when I didn’t want to be pursued. That’s love, discipleship. Mothering.

~

Older women likewise… are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3-5)

Elisa Smith. This is the “other” who truly changed my life. A discipler/friend of more than 12 years, she taught me everything from how to love my husband and kids to how to grocery shop on a budget to how to have a baby (!). Just got to see her recently and the child who I held at birth now looks me almost straight in the eyes!  How thankful beyond words I am for a woman who invested years into my life.

~

Who are the “mothers and others” you are thankful for today? Be sure to tell them … Thanks for reading.