Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Hayward Tucker

 

Even though I’ve been a mother for 34 years, I usually don’t think of myself but rather my own mother as Mother’s Day approaches. Most everyone believes they have/had the best Mom in the world, and they should. The last time my brother and I celebrated this special day with our Mom was 2015. The definition of angel is: a spiritual being who acts as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God with greater-than-human power appearing in human figure with wings and halo; a person of exemplary conduct and virtue. Hmm, this description sounds a lot like a loving mother.

According to the dictionary, a mother is the female parent of a child. That matter-of-fact definition doesn’t butter my biscuit at all. A mother is a teacher of faith, a giver of hope, and God’s earthly example of love. In addition to the usual information, Mom’s headstone has five words engraved on it: “An Exemplary Life of Love.” In 1 Corinthians 13, we find that love is the more excellent way to live. There’s faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.

The supreme goal for all mothers is to practice love. Love is most important because it lasts forever. When children have been loved appropriately during their nurturing years at home, they will continue to carry that love until their last breath.

Mom’s words still resound in the warm and fuzzy places of my heart. Her teaching topics on everyday life were quite varied: “Be sure your sins will find you out.” “Smile at everyone — it doesn’t cost you anything.” “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” “Shoes make or break your outfit.” “Never leave the kitchen while you’re baking cookies because you need to watch them so they don’t overbake.” “Keep your word, do what you say you’ll do, and be dependable.” “You might as well laugh as cry.” “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all.“ She also proved that God had first place in her heart by her everyday lifestyle.

Country/gospel music artist Randy Travis released the song “Angels” in 2004. Buck Moore, Troy Seals, and Harvey McNalley co-wrote the song. Here are some of the lyrics that will warm your heart and make your eyes leak: “Me and some of the boys were sitting around the other night and started talking about politics, religion, love and life; and is there or isn’t there angels here on earth. And then one guy said, ’If it’s something I can see or something I can touch, well I might believe in all that stuff.’ So I just had to say to him, ’Are you tellin’ me that you’ve never seen an angel? Never felt the presence of one standing by? No robe of white, no halo in sight, well you missed the most obvious thing! Man, are you blind? Just look in your mother’s eyes.’” (I suggest you to go online and give this song a listen.)

Mom began keeping a diary when her first grandchild was born in 1970. After she died, I found multiple diaries and eagerly read them. I was tearfully impacted by her acts of love in her daily life and I decided that I wanted to be like her. Because being like her was the same as being like Jesus.

The Key: A loving mother is as close to an angel as you can get. Happy Mother’s Day!