Life Lessons from Mom

Today is Mother's Day in the United States. In Nicaragua we celebrate on May 30, so it feels a bit weird to be thinking about a day that everyone else is preparing for while I'm actually supposed to celebrate my mom today. :) However, in honor of the day and my mother, I wanted to share with everyone some of the things that she has taught me. 

I love my mom's laugh

Without my mom in my life, I would be a very different person. I love and value her. I trust her. I seek her insight and guidance. I argue with her. She knows me better than I know myself. So today, I reflect on what has stuck with me the most from my time with my mom.

How we feel about trying Thousand Year Old duck eggs

Your faith should affect everything you do.

From devotions in the morning to how I played soccer to weeding the garden, my mom shared with us the importance of making our faith an integral part of our lives. She shared from her own experience as an agricultural major in college and how she first began to think about doing all of life in a Christian way. She talked about her calling in construction and how building good houses is good stewardship and part of the values she has as a Christian. My mom taught me that nothing in my life is separate from my faith in Jesus Christ.

My mom has a great way of hosting people in our home... She just makes them part of our lives

Pray about everything.

Any time I approached my mom looking for advice or floating a decision, one of her first questions (which I generally dreaded) was, "Have you prayed about it?" I started shooting up prayers to God just so I could say "yes." But this emphasis on prayer has shaped who I am and how I make decisions. Pray is a real part of my life, a conversation of seeking and talking and listening - well, at least that is the ideal - and I credit my mother for a lot of that. She modeled for us real prayers at family devotions after breakfast and dinner. My mom has also encouraged my prayer life by building me up and telling me that she thinks I am a prayer warrior; I don't think I am, but her words inspire me to pray more than I do now. 

Most of what I know about cooking, I learned from my mom. It's not her fault it's not very much - I was a bad student

Anything you do is worth your best effort.

Whether she was telling me how her grandma inspected her dusting with a white glove, teaching me how to clean the toilet with a toothbrush, encouraging me in my studies at school, or exhorting me not to give up when I didn't like a job, my mom has taught me the importance of doing my best. She used to tell me that the grades didn't matter as long as I was giving it my best. I learned from my mom some of my perfectionism, but also that serving as unto the Lord means giving my best effort in whatever I do (because, see the first thing on the list).

We may not always be photogenic, but we like each other a lot

You are a beautiful child of God.

I belong to God, my mother has always told me. She was not like other mothers in many ways; I knew she loved me even though she wasn't at all of my games or didn't pack my lunches in the morning. I value the independence she instilled in me. When people ask how my parents feel about me living in Nicaragua, I can truthfully tell them that my parents are happy because they know that I'm obeying God's call in my life. They have always said that I do not belong to them, that I belong to God and he entrusted me to their care. They in turn entrust me to His. My mom has spoken words of freedom and truth into my life, reaffirming who I am in Christ when I feel broken and ugly and useless and scared. I am a beautiful child of God.

Much to her chagrin, we even dress alike sometimes

Our family rituals - like the Santa Hat and Thank You Hugs - are something my mom has given to us

Wash the dishes at night before going to bed.

Yes, my mom has shaped who I am in many ways, but as I grow older, I see more of her training and tendencies in myself. For example, when I'm away for the night, my housemates often leave the dishes until the next morning. It's part of my nightly ritual to wash the dishes so I can wake up to clean counters (plus, it cuts down on the risk of mice and rats entering in the night to lick the plates clean). There are other practical habits I've learned from my mom. Things like waiting for others to be served before eating, using special dishes for special occasions, wanting the house to be clean when guests come over. These and many others are habits and lessons I have learned from my mom.

My mom has always stressed harmony in our home. My brother and I are really glad for that the older we get

Thank you, Mom, for being such an important part of my life. Thank you for being someone who continues to change and learn and grow. Thank you for showing me more of God. Thank you for passing down wisdom and strength and truth. Thank you, Mom, for being my mother. Happy Mother's Day.