My mother was a Southern lady from Virginia who taught me how a lady should act and the value of who I am. She modeled integrity, faithfulness and love, and I learned so much from her.
10 Things I learned from my mother
- Always be on time or a little early – arriving late shows disrespect for others’ time
- Sing when you’re sad – it’s hard to be focused on your problems when you’re singing
- Make up your bed every morning – it sets a good habit of putting everything where it belongs before your whole world is out of order
- Give money when the offering plate is passed and share with anyone in need – generosity is the antidote to greed
- Wake up early for quiet time – once the day starts, it’s hard to carve out the most important part of the day
- It’s nicer to smell a rose than a garbage pile – fill you mind and thoughts with good rather than bad
- Don’t “sit on your manners” – always say please and thank you and let others go through the door first
- Wear lipstick when you go to the grocery store – it’s not hard to look your best…always
- Know the story of Great Grandma’s hutch – your family and past generations are who you are and connect you to history
- Love God with all your heart and show that love to everyone else
These are great standards to live by, and I see my mother clearly when I read them. But they also inspire me to think what I want to pass along to my children. So here goes…
10 Things I hope my children learn from me
- Laugh at yourself – you are not perfect and that’s OK (everyone else already knows that about you)
- Eat breakfast together – family time is sweet and more precious than we realize
- Treat others with respect and kindness – this includes your spouse
- Always share with others less fortunate – even when we feel poor, we are 99% richer than the rest of the world
- Happiness is a choice – let go of hate and anger because they are more poisonous to you than to their target
- Put things away after you use them – it’s easier to keep chaos away before it overwhelms you
- Wake up early to be quiet and give space to hear God speaking – it is worth silencing our “mind chatter”
- Control is an illusion – we are not as in control of life as we think so trust God with each day and the future
- Look for the good in people – we are all made in the image of God and it is special to get a glimpse of his face in others
- Love God with all your heart and show that love to everyone else
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom
