I have been looking at old pictures of Mom from different seasons of her life and have noticed something similar in the pictures. There is a sweetness, a sereneness, a peace on her face in the pictures. From an adorable baby to a dear great-grandmother, the look is still there. It comes from inside her; not from make-up or fancy hair or jewelry but from an inner peace that she learned about as a girl which comes only from a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. Mom's life wasn't a bed of roses. She and Dad went through some really rough years when they were young. Having a large garden wasn't a hobby but a necessity to be sure there was enough food for the family. Making her own clothes, making clothes for her children, accepting hand-me-down clothes were ways she helped make ends meet. Mom worked right alongside my Dad as he farmed, even having the children ride on the cultivator as she drove the tractor so she knew where we were. Their farm never produced a lot but they worked hard and provided for their family. In her early journals, she makes notes about work on the farm, late nights birthing piglets, doing laundry, canning food and about how much she spent when she did go shopping. Her journals have notes about our Dad losing his job at Whirlpool and wondering how long he would be off this time, how many hours he worked at Baxter's (he was a butcher) and how much he made a week. Believe me, their lives where not about material things but about family and relationships. And this is where her beauty came from.
Happy Birthday, Mom! May you feel blessed and at peace today.
posted by Sarah
It's true, Sarah - your mom always has had a sweetness about her. I'm not sure I have ever heard about her complaining, either. She is a good example of a godly woman who seeks after God in a quiet and patient way. And prays. Thanks for sharing that!
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