Home is Where Mom is…

The Proverbs 31 Woman has always been the yardstick for a godly woman.  Who will dare put these verses as their epitaph on their tombstone?  I am most certain it won’t be me.  I made my husband promised me that.   A part of Proverbs 31 says…

 “25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

See what I mean?  I can think of one woman though who embodies these ideals portrayed from the Wisdom book.  She is my Mom!  It’s Mothers’ day…so, allow me to sing my own praises about her. 

Mothering for me is the world’s toughest job.  I have the gray hair to prove it.  “Ima” as we affectionately call her, perform it with a capital “J.”  Over the years she tried to create a positive attitude despite all the unbelievable demands thrown at her.

Serving her family is like her second nature.  Even in her prime years, she is still serving, loving and  caring.  Ima was never into entrepreneurship, but she invested heavily on family relationships.

I know in our growing up years, she was busy putting out fires left and right, just so her kids will grow up ‘normal’ and well adjusted. 

Her love is unconditional; forgiveness is her motto, all through her life.  She just keeps on loving no matter how much it hurts.  She does not have a lot of material things but so extravagant in her love and mercy, forgiveness she gave so lavishly.  She modeled a profound love for God and respect for people.

Did I tell you, I have an amazing Mom?  She is wildly funny, everything amuses her.  She is the greatest recipient of my brother’s teasing and loving bantering.  “Mommy time” is not in her terminology.  I was sure she felt guilty taking a break from her cantankerous children.  Her patience boundless and interminable!  Oh genetics please work it out for me! :)

She never demonstrated a precarious attitude because she is secured in the Lord.  Or she probably did not want to portray it, ‘for the kid’s sake.’   It is no wonder; we all love her to the brim.

When I think of my childhood memories, it would always bring me to those crisp early mornings, with her, tending the yard at 4am, breakfast ready for Dad and famished brood.  All our lunches wrapped up in banana leaves,  seven of them, ready to go.

 She is the type who is satisfied with the broth of the ‘sinigang’  (fish/meat stew) because there was never plenteous meat to go around. She would say, “I always prefer the broth, more than the meat, anyway!”

 Our last name is “Santos.”  In that name she is the saint!

I would like my mom to live forever, but down the road, one day her epitaph will say…”Our Proverbs 31 Woman, she gave it all to her family!”

I love you, Ima…to the moon and back!   Happy Mother’s Day!

 

  

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