"Simply having children does not make mothers." ~John A. Shedd

Today I am going to cheat a little.  After all, it IS my blog, so cheating is allowed - right?  I have a number of young mothers on my list, and today I decided to lump them all together, simply because I would like to fit in as many people into these 30 days as I can.  If you are reading this, and you have young children at home, I'm writing about you today.  Some of you live here, and some of you have moved away.  I could list your names, but you know who you are!

I've been blessed to be able to have a few Bible studies through the years with the young mothers in our congregation.  I am always impressed with their love and dedication for their families, and their strong desire to raise children who serve God.  Some of these mothers stay home each day with their children, and some of them find it necessary to work outside of the home.  Most are married, and a few are not.  Of the ones who are married, most have Christian spouses, but some don't.  Wherever they fall in those areas, they encourage me.

I see mothers who sacrifice every day for their kids.  They give up sleep, nicer clothes, peaceful meals, and sometimes their sanity - all for the good of their children.  I see mothers who come to me and others for advice - not because we have all of the answers, but because they want to hear from someone who has been where they are, and survived.  I watch these mothers struggle with their youngsters during worship, sometimes making multiple trips outside to administer discipline - all so that they can teach them that worshiping God is important.  Is it easy?  No - but they don't give up!  These young mothers strive every day to live for Christ, and to grow in Him, because they know their kids are watching, and they also know that you cannot impart something that you don't have for yourself.  They work hard to teach their children about God, knowing that these precious souls they have been entrusted with will live eternally, and the choices they make as mothers during these early years will greatly impact the decisions their children will make for themselves when they are grown.

Being in the middle of mommy-hood, especially in the early years, can be scary, challenging, and frustrating.  Sometimes you feel like you are doing everything wrong, and other times you think that your child MUST be brain-damaged, because they just don't get it!  But these mothers I'm writing about today are sticking with it, and as their children are growing they are reaping the rewards.  I am observing a group of children who are growing up to honor their parents, to be a blessing to those around them, and most importantly, to love and serve God.  I'm thankful for all of the young mothers I know.  I love you all, and appreciate you so much for the tireless work you are putting into raising your children.  It truly is the hardest, but most rewarding job you will ever have. You encourage me, and give me hope for the future through your precious children.  Ahhh - those sweet children of yours - - that's a post for another day!

"Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another." ~George Eliot

Do you know someone who is always happy?  Someone who has a unique gift for intuitively knowing the needs of others, and not only knowing them, but always responding to them in exactly the right way?  Someone who goes above and beyond to help others?  I know several people like that, and the person I drew to write about today perfectly embodies those traits.

I first met Debby when I was a teenager.  She and her young family began worshipping with us.  Her husband was a Christian, and Debby was soon baptized.  That was probably close to 30 years ago, and Debby has not lost her new convert zeal or enthusiasm at all.

Debby owns a hair salon, and when I lived in the same town, I always went to her to get my hair cut.  I loved getting haircuts, because it always gave me time to visit with Debby.  In those early days of getting to know her, I discovered a woman who was passionate about her family.  She would share with me the things she was doing with her two young daughters, and what she was teaching them about life.  She had a deep love for God, and that love led her to talk to others about Christ.  It also led her to serve in selfless ways.  To this day, if Debby perceives a need, she always responds.  I am continually amazed at the things she does for other people, and I'm sure I don't know even the half of it.  Not only does she serve, but she LOVES serving.  She has one of those personalities that draws people in, as she is always happy, and always laughing.

On my wedding day, I woke up to find myself unable to speak.  The cold I had developed a few days prior had turned into full-blown laryngitis.  Everyone around me seemed to have a "solution," and I was soon filling myself with decongestants, tissue salts, and every other home remedy known to man.  Debby showed up at the wedding venue to style my hair, and she immediately sprang into action, ordering a LARGE cup of coffee for me to drink.  "The heat from the coffee will loosen the phlegm on your vocal chords," she said.  And she was right.  Thanks to Debby, I was able to say my vows in a voice above a whisper.  I was also a little stressed that day when I learned that one of my house party members couldn't be there because she woke up sick that morning.  Once again, Debby didn't miss a beat, and told me she would be happy to serve in her place.  And serve she did - with a big smile on her face.

I'm glad I know Debby.  She has taught me that passion for God and for family does not have to wane with time.  She has also taught me that serving others is not a one-time thing, but should be a lifetime, daily privilege for those of us who are Christians, and that service is always a joyful thing.  Her manner of life has also shown me that most of the time all we have to do is be perceptive, and it will be easy to see the needs of others and respond accordingly - we shouldn't wait to be asked.  Debby continues to be a blessing to me and to countless others.  I hope you know a "Debby," and more than that, I hope we can all be more like her.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~Henry Brooks Adams

When asked what my favorite grade was in school when I was growing up, I always answer 2nd grade.  It wasn't so much the school itself, or the kids, or what I learned in the class - it was the teacher, Mrs. Jordan.

Mrs. Jordan was one of those teachers you never forget.  She loved teaching, she was young and enthusiastic, and she loved her students.  I don't remember a whole lot about the day-to-day activities of 2nd grade, but I do remember feeling like I was important in Mrs. Jordan's class.  I'm quite sure everyone else felt that way, too.  I also remember that I wanted to excel and give my very best for her - I never wanted to disappoint Mrs. Jordan.

The summer after 2nd grade, I had surgery on my hand in a neighboring city, which was about an hour's drive away.  Mrs. Jordan found out about it, and she drove that hour to visit me.  Once again, the summer after 3rd grade - a year removed from being Mrs. Jordan's student - I had surgery again.  Mrs. Jordan found out, and she drove the hour to visit me again.  I wasn't even her student anymore, and she still made the time to do that for me.  That made an impression.

I kept in touch with Mrs. Jordan through the years, and she was always excited to learn of what was going on in my life.  The year after I graduated, tragedy struck Mrs. Jordan's life.  Both of her children, ages 10 and 8, were killed shortly before Christmas in a tragic car accident.  Mr. Jordan's parents also perished.  What unspeakable grief and pain.  Shortly after that, I asked her if she would help me plan and organize my wedding and reception - my mother was living in Chicago at the time, and I needed some help.  Mrs. Jordan was glad for the distraction, and she did an amazing job of helping me coordinate everything.

I still keep in touch with Mrs. Jordan through Facebook.  She and her husband were blessed to be able to have two more children, who are now students at Texas A&M.  She continues to teach, and to love her students, and there is no way to measure how much she has influenced the lives of others in her path.

Mrs. Jordan taught me to love learning, and that education was something to get excited about and to give my all to.  She taught me that a teacher can have a major impact for good in a child's life, and that loving your students extends outside of the classroom.  Through her tragedy, she showed me how to handle such grief with a deep trust in God, and that sometimes the way to get outside of that grief is by reaching out to help others.  I continue to be encouraged by her attitude, and love to read her Facebook status updates.  I was particularly moved by one this summer that she posted in reference to her children . . . "Every single moment of every single day I am thankful for them...and every single moment of every single day I am in awe of how out of such tragedy could come such blessings. There are so many things I do not understand, but I do know our God is an awesome God."   I love Mrs. Jordan.  I'm thankful that I ended up in her classroom in 2nd grade, and she continues to educate me to this day.

"An uncle is a joy to remember your whole life through." ~Unknown

Everyone should have an Uncle James.  My Uncle James was my mother's youngest brother.  When I was little he lived in the same town, and he was always coming over to visit.  He played the guitar, and my favorite was when he would play and sing, "Boney Maroney."  He would give me money, and he would buy my brother and me candy cigarettes and burn the ends so they would look real.  (I still can't believe my mother let him do that!)  I remember one day he showed up at our house on a motorcycle he had just bought.  He took my brother and me on a ride around the block, making sure my little self was tucked snuggly and safely in front of him with his arms around me.  I adored my Uncle James.

At some point in my childhood he moved with his family to Ft. Worth, but he continued to be a part of our lives.  He always made sure he visited on holidays, and other times, just because.  Uncle James and Aunt Sallye always made the trip back for important events in my life - they were there for graduation, and for my wedding.  And Uncle James always made me feel like I was special.  He made everyone feel that way.

Nine years ago, my daddy died suddenly as the result of an accident.  That horrible night when I arrived at my mother's house, and the dark, sad reality was beginning to settle in on me, Uncle James called, and it helped me to just be able to hear his voice.  The next day he drove from Ft. Worth to Longview just for the day.  He went with us to make funeral arrangements, and he was just there for us, because that's what Uncle James always did.  He drove back home that same day, only to return a few days later for the visitation and funeral.  Uncle James was always there.

in recent years, with the advent of Facebook, Uncle James joined.  I loved how he always "liked" and commented on my pictures or status updates, and how he always ended his comments with "Luv ya, little girl!"  

A little over a year ago, we were once again shocked by a sudden, unexpected death - this time it was Uncle James who suffered a massive heart attack in his son's back yard while building a playhouse for his granddaughter.  He was only 65.  I miss him.  He was a loud, happy, loving man who suffered a lot of tragedy in his own life - at the young age of 15, he came home from school one day to find his mother dead, and he served our country in both Korea and Vietnam.  But you would never know he had lived anything other than an idyllic life by meeting him.  From Uncle James I learned to enjoy music and life and Wahoo; to not worry so much about the little things.  I also learned from him that family is important, and the attention we pay to the young ones in our families has long-reaching effects for good.  It really is too bad that everyone can't have an Uncle James - I'm thankful I did.

"He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God." ~Abraham Kuyper

The quote above perfectly describes the person I drew for today's post of those I am thankful for who have touched my life.  I met Mary about 21 years ago.  She is 11 years older than me, and has children older than mine, so it was not a natural friendship borne of a common stage in life.  

I got to know Mary initially from the fact that she and her family sat in front of us at each worship services.  We would have the usual pre-worship small talk, and after-worship chats.  I would also see her at ladies' Bible classes, and was immediately impressed with her depth of knowledge that emanated from her good heart that was full of love for God.  Then, with time, I had opportunities to study the Bible with Mary in a smaller, more intimate setting.  Those things gradually led to a close friendship.  I watched how Mary, along with her husband, so lovingly and capably taught her children, and how dedicated she was to making sure her family put God first.  I also watched how she cared for her elderly mother.  I know it was difficult for her to balance being a mother, and also a caregiver for an elderly parent, but she did so with grace and love.  Her mother (who is also on this list) often told me how she didn't know what she would do without Mary.

Mary and I have similar personalities - both of us are more introspective, and less outgoing.  We also share a lot of the same views on Scripture, parenting, and all the other important aspects of life.  I often joke with her that when I grow up, I want to be just like her.  I have learned a lot from watching her through the years, and I love the conversations we have regarding spiritual matters.  And every time I talk to her, that's always where our conversations end up - talking about God.  From Mary I have learned about selfless service, diligent Bible study, and living a God-centered life.

Mary now lives a thousand miles away, and I don't get to see her or talk to her often enough.  But, when we have opportunity to visit on the phone, it is always so natural and easy - just like no time has passed at all.  Mary is always the first one I go to when I need solid, sound advice.  One of the things I love most about Mary is her honesty.  Brutal honesty.  She always tells me exactly how she feels about something, even if she knows I don't agree, or it might be hard for me to hear.  She has become one of my closest and dearest friends - one of those "lifetime" friends, which is so rare and precious in today's world.  Mary makes me better, and "pushes me nearer to God."  The last time I talked to her, she told me she will "always love me, no matter what."  Me, too, Mary.  Me, too.

"Grandparents make the world...a little softer, a little kinder, a little warmer." ~Author Unknown

(If you haven't read the October 31 post, please scroll down and do so before continuing.)

Grandparents can have a powerful influence on a child's life.  Today's random drawing did not produce names of my own grandparents, but those I acquired by marriage - Lee and Joyce Hardgrave, Jeff's maternal grandparents.

The first time I met the Hardgraves, Papa quizzed me on my family names as he attempted to find out some way we were related.  This made me uncomfortable, because I really didn't want to find out I was related to someone I wanted to marry!  Grandma quickly told me that she did NOT like anyone to be in her kitchen, and she meant it.  I loved them both from the start.

Papa was a unique person of many talents.  He was a jeweler by trade, a fiddle-maker by hobby, and a great lover of people.  He was one of those souls that people are naturally drawn to.  He always showed great interest in the lives of others, and I never saw him unhappy, even when things were not going well for him.  Grandma was a little more reserved, and more of one to stick to the rules.  She valued cleanliness, and frugality, but she, too, was always pleasant to be around.  They loved each other deeply, and I remember watching them in their later years together and thinking to myself, "I hope Jeff and I are just like that when we are their age."  They also loved their family deeply.  They spent countless hours with their grandchildren, and I am convinced that their influence is largely responsible for the development of the character of the wonderful man I was blessed to marry.

From the Hardgraves I learned that two seemingly different people can work together and complement each other in wonderful ways, drawing from each others strengths, and helping with each others weaknesses.  I also learned that grandparents can have an amazing impact for good in the lives of their grandchildren.  

The influence of the Hardgraves is far reaching, even though they have both passed from this life.  The things they taught, and the example they set continue to live as they are passed on through their progeny.  I am thankful for them, and was blessed to be loved by them.

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” `Proverbs 16:3

(If you haven't read the entry for October 31, please do so before continuing on here.)

When I was a little girl, I met a graceful little old lady at church.  Her name was Virginia, but everyone called her Ginger.  Being raised in a conservative, rural, East Texas town, little girls NEVER called adults by their first names.  Ginger was the exception.  My memories of Ginger are vague and sporadic, but she is tucked away there nonetheless.  I don't really know how old she was when I knew her, but I do know she was widowed and had grandchildren older than me.  She was small of stature, had beautiful gray hair, always had a smile on her face, and always had time for a young girl.

I remember Ginger as my Bible class teacher, probably when I was in 1st grade.  I loved going to her Bible class, and the thing I remember most about it was the maps.  As a class, we would MAKE maps (using markers, glue, sand, etc.) of the Bible lands.  I know now how much time and effort Ginger put in to prepare all of that for us, and it was a wonderful way to learn.  She loved the Lord, and she was always excited about teaching us about Him.  And she got me excited about learning about Him.

I also remember going over to visit at Ginger's house with my mother.  As I recall, her house was small with lots of grandmotherly trinkets, and she also had a toybox, which I loved.  When I was in 2nd grade, I had surgery, and Ginger sent me cards.  Multiple cards.  When I came home from the hospital, she came over to visit me, and brought me a ceramic statute of Thumper.  I still have it.

From Ginger, I learned that people are people.  It doesn't matter how many years pass between birth dates, a 5 year old can befriend and learn from a 70 year old, and vice versa.  I learned that little things (like cards, visits, and thoughtful gifts) can go a long way toward brightening someone's day.  Ginger taught me that no one is ever too old or too young to be considered "unimportant," or not worth the time.  She helped me learn that we are all made in God's image, and we are all special to Him.

I also learned from her that Bible class teachers can have a lifelong positive impact on their students.  Her faith and her love for God were sincere, and she excitedly passed that on.  Likewisee, she taught me that you are never "too old" to teach.  Yes, I know that sometimes age brings on difficulties with health that make teaching children's Bible classes difficult, but thanks to Ginger, I hope to never just use age as an excuse to "let the younger ones do it."

At some point in my childhood, Ginger left, and we lost touch.  I don't remember the circumstances or reasons - my guess now is that she probably moved closer to her children to be better cared for in her later years.  I'm quite sure that she has long ago passed from this life, and I'm relatively certain that she never fully realized the impact she had on a little girl named Tracy.  Someday I hope to tell her.