Mom's tribute

Here is what God helped me right and share at the funeral....


Mom’s Tribute

God is good. I can’t tell you what a privilege and a blessing it is to share with you about the most special woman in my life. Today, I would just like to share with you a few reasons why she was so special to me. On Mother’s day of this year, I gave her a gift that I hope conveyed to her just how special she really was. My gift was a list of 100 things she did right as my mom. Since some of those things are just between mom and I, you don’t get to hear all 100, but I would like to share with you some of the things off of that list
1. You taught me how to properly set a table.
2. When I was nervous before my first soccer game in 6th grade, you took me in to the fellowship center and practiced with me.
3. You took me seriously…
4. You tried to get me to not take myself so seriously.
5. You just laughed and told me to live a little when you found out I had been hiding fake fingernails in my dresser drawer.
6. You made a home that my friends liked to come over to.
7. When I came home from school with dirty clothes, you didn’t get mad. You just said “That’s what the washing machine is for”
8. You let me help you with housework when I was little.
9. You MADE me help with housework when I was older. (I’m sorry for the bad attitudes!)
10. You stayed with me the week before Emily was born…despite all my pregnancy craziness.
11. You let me wear your Ralph Lauren Perfume on special occasions.
**It smells very good today**
12. You’re a wonderful Grammy for my daughter.
13. You taught me to take a 20 minute shower instead of 60 minute ones. (By the way…my showers lately average a mere 7 minutes.)
14. You always told me I was beautiful.
15. You taught me what true beauty really is.
16. You are an example of that beauty.
17. You let me stubbornly hold fast to traditions that were so important to me.
18. Speaking of stubborn….you somehow acquired the balance of knowing when to let me be stubborn…and when to be stubborn yourself. I thank you for both.
19. You taught me this “This little Piggy”, “Oh how I love Jesus” , “This Is the Way We Wash Our Hair”, “Kelly, stop hitting yourself!” , “The “Insy Weensy Spider” & how to steal noses. All of which are becoming classics with a certain 2 year old we both know and love.
20. You taught me the importance of waiting for “God’s best”.
21. You bragged about me.
22. You always reacted in a way that made my homemade gifts & cards seem like the grandest treasures.
23. Golden Girls……need I say more?
24. Everything good I know about being a mommy, I’ve learned from you.
25. I don’t ever remember a time when you said “I told you so”.
26. You’ve folded countless baskets of clothes for me.
27. You didn’t get too upset all the times I fell in lakes and rivers after you told me not to get wet.


My mom impacted my life in countless ways that far exceeded my list of 100. However, there were 3 on my list that far surpass the others. 3 things that…because she did, I am who I am today.

1. One night when I was 4 and couldn’t sleep, you told me that Jesus wanted to come into my heart.

My mom helped me fall in love with Jesus at an early age. My mom made sure I had the opportunity early on to accept him. Because of what Christ did on the cross, I stand here today forgiven and free. Because of what Christ did on the cross, my mom is in heaven…and someday, I will see her again. Praise God.

Mom and I shared a common burden for several people who we know still need to accept Jesus. If even one person here accepts Christ today, all of the events of this week will have been worth it. Dad and I know that mom would say the exact same thing.

2 I’ve learned so much about trusting God from you.
My mom instilled in me a deep faith and trust in God. Not only did she teach me this, but she lived out an incredible example of how a person can cling to God and trust in His promises. Throughout my Mom’s illness, I never never never heard her doubt her God.

I stand here today heartbroken and hurting…but because of my Mom’s legacy, I can tell you that I stand here completely trusting in God wisdom, His perfect timing, His mercy & His love. I know there will still be hard days ahead, but I know my God will carry me. And I know, I can trust his promises that Mom is at perfect peace and joy with Him…and that I WILL see her again. In fact, because of her faith and trust in God, we had a conversation Monday night of this week about the assurance that we had that we would all be in heaven someday.

Finally, mom always pointed me to scripture for encouragement.
Any time my mom said that she felt led to give me a scripture, I listened. Every single time, the scripture would hit the nail on the head. It would be the perfect thing for that moment in time. God has used this method of speaking to me through my mom countless times. It never ceased to amaze me

On Tuesday, the day before she died, my mom left me a voicemail on my cell phone. She told me that she felt led to have me read Psalms 91. She was emphatic that I read it before going to bed that night…and I did. I had someone read it to me the moment after I found out she had gone home to Jesus….and I’ve read it several times since. When I opened her Bible to read it at the house, it fell right open to the exact page, because she had book marked it. Almost the whole Psalm is highlighted. And in her beautiful handwriting she has written next to it the words “Be Brave…You have God!”.

I would like to share with you parts of Psalms 91. I would encourage you to read the whole thing later.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord “he is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him. I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

I love you Mama… Thank you for your life and your legacy. Thank you for your love and for just being you and all that meant. I’ll make sure Emily knows, Mom. I’ll make sure she knows about all that was so important to you. With God’s help, your legacy will carry on through her. Remember Mom…I’ll always be Mama’s Angel.