I don't have children yet, but I thank the Lord for the living example He provided on how to be a godly woman and eventually, a godly mother. Here are three of the many traits I see in my mom that I want to emulate.
Sacrificial heart
Around the time my mom and dad married, they both had jobs as park rangers with Nevada State Parks — Mom was full-time and Dad was a volunteer. Dad had applied to state parks to work full-time in a position equal to Mom's, and he was accepted; however, the laws at the time prevented a family member from supervising another family member. Even though mom and dad would not have been supervising each other in their current positions, the park employers wanted to prevent a future scenario, and so they were only willing to keep one of my parents on staff. Mom and Dad decided before he applied that she would resign when he was hired — she willingly gave up her career after only three years to allow my dad to be hired.Mom then worked another three years at the Incline General Improvement District before giving that job up to take care of me at home. She never did return to the work force, choosing instead to apply her education and expertise in ministry, manage the chores at home, and be available to bring stuff to the school when I forgot.
Consistent presence
Throughout elementary school, and even some into high school, I remember witnessing my mom behind the scenes in almost every activity I was involved in. At my elementary school, she helped teach kids math and helped sort craft materials, create teaching aids, and chaperone field trips. In junior high, she sorted music in my band class. She also traveled with the band a couple times in high school. In Awana, she became the club secretary. For my softball team, she provided snacks and sat through practices and games.Guiding shadow
As much as she volunteered behind the scenes as I was growing up, she never hovered or acted overbearing. In class and on the softball field, she treated me like she treated the other students and players. At home, she made recommendations or suggestions about some of my actions and choices, and she helped me step by step as I worked through the consequences. She guided me in friendships and never called me out in front of my peers. She was a voice of wisdom, offering advice about how to solve my problems, but she never stepped in to solve them for me unless they were genuinely beyond my abilities.With these three qualities and many more, my mom helped me to become the woman I am today. And I pray that I can reflect these qualities, using them to help others, and eventually my own children, to become the men and women God wants them to be.
Thank you, Mom. <3
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