When my mother died in January, I shared with everyone who would hear how we are rejoicing that her physical body may have died, but her soul was
immediately with the Lord in heaven because Mother trusted in Christ for her
life. (2 Corinthians 5: 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be
absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.) Since I'd never lost a
parent before, I didn't know how many memories would come into my mind in the
days and weeks and months after her death. But they have, and I praise God for
how sweet they are, and for the continuing evidences I see in those memories of
her walk with Christ and her life of love for her family and people and hundreds
of children. (She taught kindergarten for more than 30 years.) The Holy Spirit's fruit was so absolutely on display in her
life.
Mother's birthday is May 13--Mother's Day this
year--and actually she was born on Mother's Day, May 13, 1928!! Mother delighted in telling about how she was born in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. Although her family lived on a ranch near Woodlake, her father's brother "Uncle Doctor Frank" was an obstetrician in Los Angeles, so the family traveled to Los Angeles--200 miles away--imagine what that trip was like in 1928!--for the births of my mother and her three older siblings. The fifth child was born in near-by Visalia since my grandmother had been counseled to not have any more children!
In honor of my mother, Carolyn Hope Ainley Burris, I'd like to share the story she submitted to a local newspaper for Father's Day 2007 in response to the question, "What's the best advice your father gave you?"
"My father, Ralph, died in 1973 and my mother, Jessie, in 1980. He was a cattleman. He also raised oranges, pigs, grapes, olives and five children on a very limited budget. My father's advice to me:
- Honor God.
- Go to church every Sunday.
- Respect and honor your mother.
- Get along with your siblings.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Drink the milk your brothers milked the cow for you to drink.
- Get a college education.
- Contribute to the community where you live.
- Don't drink or smoke.
- Eat natural foods like honey.
- Read to your children and tell them stories.
- Enjoy life and be happy you are alive."
This Sunday, Mother's Day and Mother's birthday, is an extra-special day for me. I rejoice in the love of my dear husband and four children and one son-in-law. I rejoice in the love of wonderful friends. I rejoice in the Lord and in His faithfulness and grace and mercy. And I pray that everyone who would hear will worship and praise and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ with me--and with my mother Hope-- for how God, "According to His great mercy....has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1: 3
