My Mom, Semper Fi

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

My Mom worries about me. While she was in a hospital bed in agony recovering from surgery she was constantly expressing her concerns for me. She kept apologizing for me "having" to be there. She worried about whether I was going to get any sleep. She expressed concern over how I would feel tomorrow after staying up with her all night. And she kept thanking me for being there, as if I was inconveniencing myself to sit beside the woman who spent a large portion of her life changing my diapers, cooking me healthy food, making sure I was tucked in and warm at night, working a full time job, teaching me the gospel, and praying for my spiritual salvation.

Her humility and grace are evident in the fact that she doesn't even think about how many nights of sleep she lost throughout my childhood while she stayed awake and cared for me during my illnesses. Or how many nights she lay awake praying for me as I struggled through my teen years, uncertain of whether I would succeed or self-destruct as I alternated between wisdom and stupidity in my decisions. And it was multiplied by four, since I have two brothers and a sister...but I know I was the one who created the most grief and worry. Yet she unfailingly trusted in God to grant her the wisdom to guide me safely through those perilous times.

She doesn't seem to be aware that I stayed there and cared for her this one night because she taught me through her own living example to care for those I love. She showed me over so many years that one night's sleep is a tiny sacrifice to make for those who are dear to us and in need.

She was in tremendous pain and weary from the constant interruptions of sleep for blood pressure testing and all the other things that go along with recovery from major surgery, but she kept thinking about how I was doing, and how my sister, who has spent many more nights than I with her, was doing along with caring for her four children.

That's my mom. Constantly putting others before herself, sacrificing so much of her life and energy for the welfare of her children and loved ones, and always believing and trusting in Jesus.

The marines may have claimed ownership of the term "Semper Fidelis", but my mom has earned it and lived it as well.

Mom, thanks for your example, and for teaching me the meaning of love, faith, humility, and mercy.

And don't worry, I'm fine. I feel great just knowing I could repay the tiniest fraction of the time and effort you've put into caring for me.