Mom

My mother is an extraordinary woman. I admire her for so many different reasons, but most of all for her faith and her courage.

She didn't grow up in a Christian home and didn't marry into a Christian family. She was laughed at and teased by members of our family for going to church and ridiculed for her beliefs, which she chose to share with them anyway.

As we were growing up, she took us to church every Sunday and enrolled us in Christian schools. She and my dad took on extra jobs, a paper route and school bus driving, to help pay for the cost of our schooling. They made alot of sacrifices that we were not aware of to ensure a Christian education and to keep us sheltered from bad influences.

Even as adults, my mom reaches out to us and directs us back to the Lord whenever we stray. It has always been hard asking her for advice, because the answer is always the same. If we would just walk with the Lord, we wouldn't have so many confusions. If our life was right with the Lord we would avoid the messes that we get ourselves into and have the answers that we seek.

When you are far away from God, that advice can be frustrating. We want something concrete, a real solution.

It wasn't until almost everything in my life that I thought I had wanted, that I so desperately sought after was ripped from my hands that I discovered that she was right. That it truly is the answer for all of life's troubles.

It's difficult to lean on God when you want control of your life. Life becomes much easier when you realize you have no control over it at all.

I have a beautiful mother. She has a heart of gold and does what she can to help anyone she can. She encourages others with her kindness, generosity and amazing strength. She cares for her granchildren after school, attends their special functions and even takes a few to church with her every week. She cares for my sister who is on dialysis and is frequently ill and hospitalized. She cares for my brother who has been diagnosed with kidney failure as well and often requires special help. She tirelessly nursed my dad for four months before he died and held his hand as he took his last breath. I honestly don't know a stronger person.

She has truly been the Heart of our home and I want to tell her that I love her and hope it's true that "One day you wake up and discover you are your mother!"

I LOVE YOU MOM!

--Kandice