I spent a profitable hour last Monday at an adult day care center in our area.  Our church holds services there every other week.  I took the opportunity to ask them to talk about their mothers.  They were delighted to do this.  These persons are senior adults who cannot stay by themselves during the day.  Needing care and supervision, they come to this day care center.

Many of them, white and black, came from  rural backgrounds.  They told me things such as their memories of their mothers making their clothes, washing, drying, ironing them for school and church.  They remembered their mothers being up early in the mornings before light preparing breakfast.  Hot biscuits would be in the oven, and they would have a good, hot breakfast before going to school.  They remember mother tending the garden, bringing eggs from the hen house, milking the cow, and putting up preserves and vegetables later on.

Nearly every resident remembered that mother took them to church.  This meant getting the Sunday clothes made, washed and ready; bathing the children and feeding them, dressing them, and then taking them on to church.  Frequently this meant walking to church.  A day at church frequently lasted into the afternoon with dinner on the grounds.  Mother was their first spiritual teacher and leader.  I wonder for how many others of us this was true?  Our first exposure to the Bible, stories from the Bible, Jesus, and the concepts of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and redemption came from our Mothers.

I talked with my mother the day before Mother's Day.  Mom is 80 and lives in Tampa, Florida.  She has two of my siblings, my two brothers and their families, living close to her.  She has a new great grandson who is a delight to her.  She has another great grandson in Arkansas whom she would love to see more often.  But she is well and busy.  She misses my Dad who has been gone now since February, 2006.  Mom is getting on with her life.  I enjoy visiting with her.  I have many memories of things she taught me and did for me.  My love of books and of classical music are two gifts which she gave me for which I am very grateful.  She was also my first spiritual teacher.  For that I am eternally grateful.

How about you?  Did you spend time with your mother yesterday?  Haven't wished her a happy mother's day yet?  Why not do it today!!