Morning Reflections and the Many Mother's In My Life

Yes, I must use the plural for there have been many. The one who carried me left precious memories of walks alongside her, perhaps seeding my love for dogs, as the one photo most indelible in my mind captures the three of us, to include a leashed companion, her beloved Cocker Spaniel, Brownie.

Later, in fact four children later, memories were less impactful, her life stressed in a way this father of one could never comprehend.

Then there was Great-grandma Farmer, who raised Momma, she and her preacher husband, whom I hardly knew. He had passed on in my first few years, though his mountain grown commitment to ministry is still bearing fruit.

"Grammaw Farmer" was handicapped due to diabetes, eventually the loss of both legs, her diet mostly hogmeat leftovers and sweets from carrying parishioners. I still love highly salted, boiled fat meat, "light bread" used to sop up the broth. Though I now know better than to eat such!

It seems that Grandma Betty, Grammaw's daughter and Mom's mother got off to a rough start, though she later returned to the faith. In fact, she passed between the very pews of the church her dad founded on a Sunday night, hands raised in praise, so I'm told!

Then on my dad's side two of the best, his mom, Grandma Bost who introduced me to Oyster Stew on the weekends, always around for warm hug that smelled like Tube Rose snuff. She always provided a sense of encouragement, and well into my twenties before she passed. A distant, but critical stabilizing agent in my teen years, thank God.

As well, there was my Aunt Ginny, Dad's sister, the one I remember as praying often from inside the "woodshed", her spiritual fervor a moral compass, always pointing toward the true North, until Dad finally prayed me back into the fold. Dad himself was guided to Christ by her, only after Aunt Ginny married Uncle Troy Farmer. Yes, he was the son of my mountain preacher grandpa!

Then came LaDonna, willing to walk a very bruised prodigal back toward spiritual sanity. Her mom, Atha Setzer immediately stealing my heart, not only with her cooking but her listening, nonjudgmental ear.

These mother's were all a part of my pathway toward wholeness, no one singularly responsible for my crazy antics, yet collectively doing a fair job in the end, at least from my perspective!

Of course, then there's the mother whom LaDonna and I created, Summer Elizabeth Jackson. She has picked up our educator mantle, now for over 20 years.

God's best gift to us and to hundreds of children. Now into her 45th year, herself the mother of two! Another future mother now being crafted by she and her husband. Her name, Ms.Caroline Elizabeth Jackson.

Life is a circle in many ways, with my life now blessed and relatively secure, cherishing the memories of those who have so influenced my journey, especially when tempted to "color outside the lines!"