As my Mom lies in a hospital bed at home on hospice care, I was reminded of a letter I wrote to her over 8 years ago. I share it with you all now as a tribute to her and what God did in and through her.
I love you, Mom!!
—————————————————————————————————————————
May 7, 2005
Dear Mom:
I see myself running down the basketball court of an unnamed gym. I am only in 6th or 7th grade and I had just scored a basket. From the top row of a short set of bleachers, I can hear you cheering for me and yelling encouragement. This is not an isolated memory, and as I grew up in High School, even though you were not able to come and sit in the stands to cheer at my games, I always carried with me your support and encouragement for my athletic endeavors as well as any of the other challenges I strived to accomplish.
Support breeds encouragement. Encouragement breeds confidence. Confidence breeds ability. These are the gifts you have given to me as I grew and matured under your care. My home was always a place for me to be myself and where I was safe to be who I was. I always enjoyed being in my home and spending time there. It was always open and available to my friends and I always felt free to invite and bring anyone to my home. This openness taught me to serve and be available to others.
I was blessed by the consistency in my home. One of the most important and most prevalent memories I have of you as I was growing up, is you sitting in the living room with your Bible and usually a copy of “The Daily Bread”. If I did not see you sitting there, I saw evidence of you having been there before I got up. The consistency of seeing you seeking God on a regular basis has always been a cornerstone for me to serve God day in and day out. This legacy is something that I believe has left an indelible mark on me and my walk with God. I cannot thank you enough for demonstrating for me this level of consistency in walking with God.
There is so much of who I am that can be traced back to you and your love and care for me as I grew up. I cannot begin to express how much I appreciate all of your efforts and your love and dedication to me. I am so blessed by God to have you as a Mom.
For His glory and in His service,
Randy
My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 6:20
Letters from a Fathers Heart 