Faithful Friday / Angelic Mama

Well, Friday's are a time that I'm to share about God's faithfulness in my life: what person or persons He used to influence me, and what circumstances He used to mold me into the person I am today.

Besides Jesus Himself, the single most influential person in my life was my angelic Mama, Shirley Lois Warren. Until I was about 12, I really believed that she was a real angel. No Joke! She was so sweet, loving, and kind to everyone. Everyone loved Mama!

As a child, we grew up poor, but I wasn't even consciously aware of that fact til I was grown. We worked hard, but we played hard, too. But it was doing things that were inexpensive like camping, fishing, swimming, and taking long walks in the woods with Mama leading the way. I guess that's why I still take long walks in the woods with my kids.

We lived on the corner of the block in our neighborhood, and all the children congregated on that corner! Mama never met a child she didn't love, and the children could feel it. They all flocked to her like bees to honey. Drinking in the sweet nectar of her kind, encouraging words, and feasting from her generous heart of good deeds - especially the homemade chocolate oatmeal cookies that she could whip up in the blink of an eye. Mama was the glue that held our family together, and the arrow that pointed me straight to Jesus! Not so much with her words, but looking back it was because she LOVED like Him. I was so proud that she was MY mama!

She never knew until I was grown, why during those long walks in the woods I always wanted to be the first one behind her. Until one day I was invited to speak at a Mother's Day Banquet and the sponsor graciously allowed me to bring my mother and my girls at that time. I don't remember how many there where then, but I do remember sharing the secret of the 'why' after all those years. I was telling of the importance of being a good role model for our daughters, because you never know what they are going to copy you doing. Then I shared the reason I always insisted on walking directly behind my mama. She was totally oblivious to the fact that in my child-like heart that I believed that if I stepped in her every footstep that then I would be just like her! And that was my heart's desire growing up, to love like my Mama loved and to copy her as she copied Christ.

So all you mama's out there . . . little eyes are watching even when we are not aware!

#angelicmama #kidsarecopycats #justlikemama #heroes