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Seed Thoughts

Seed Thoughts//Lynette Hagin

This month we celebrate Mother’s Day. It is a time when we reflect back on what our mothers mean to us. This is the first Mother’s Day that my mother will be absent from this earth. After moving to Tulsa, I was not able to physically spend very many Mother’s Days with my mother. However, I always called her to express my appreciation for what she had meant in my life. This year I will not be able to do that, as my mother left this earth on February 25 to meet her Lord and Savior.

Mother passed from this life at the ripe age of 95. She had lived a long and healthy life. However, I don’t think that we are ever ready to release a parent to leave our presence. The picture in this column was taken at the celebration of her 90th birthday. Even at 90 she was still spry.

As I considered what words would best describe my mother, it came to me, “She was one of a kind!” One of the things that she taught me was to never duck my head. She always said, “Keep your head high.” And I noticed in this picture, even at 90, she still had her head high.

Reflecting back on my early years, I shall never forget her being my protector. Mother was afraid of storms. Every time a storm would come, regardless of the time of day (and usually a storm would come in the middle of the night), my mother would drag me out of bed and take me to our neighbor’s storm cellar. My dad and older sister would stay in bed, but Mother would always make me go with her.

Most of my natural memories of my mother revolved around food. Mother loved to cook. Nothing fancy—just  country cooking. Biscuits and gravy and pancakes were her breakfast specialties. She prided herself in getting everything to the table when it was hot. And you knew that you, too, must get to the table while the food was  piping hot. She would always fix us potato soup when we did not feel well. It just seemed to be the right antidote  for our illness.

Mother always presented a beautiful table. Whether it was for family or friends, you would have thought that she was preparing for the president of the United States. We sat down to placemats, cloth napkins, and unique pieces of dishware. She would have never dreamed of using paper plates. She took great pride in setting a beautiful table.

Legacy is defined as a gift that is handed down from generation to generation. I feel so very privileged to have had parents who left me a wonderful legacy, both naturally and spiritually. Children usually learn more from what they observe than from what they are taught. I observed my mother every morning reading her Bible. She did not let a day go by that she did not have her devotions.

One of my daughter’s memories is seeing my mother write out her tithe check and put it in an envelope before church. She would always give my daughter a short lesson on the importance of giving to God. Then she would make sure that Denise had money to put in the offering. Of course, I had heard that same lesson many times. That example became my guide in always paying my tithes and giving offerings. And when you obey God’s commandments, you place yourself in a position to be blessed.

One of the greatest legacies that my mother left me was her example of being a minister’s wife. The things that I observed were lessons that I would need as I followed in her footsteps and married a minister. I observed her supporting my father in any way necessary. I learned about sacrifice and commitment. I learned how to make it through the tough times as I observed my parents’ commitment to fulfilling the plan of God for their lives.

I am thankful to have had my mother for so many years. She would always say, “If you want to stay young, hang around the young people.” She has left me with a great legacy to follow. I miss her very much, but I know that she is thrilled to be at the feet of her Savior. She loved Him so dearly. And I am sure that He said, “Welcome home.”