I REMEMBER MOMMA

My mother passed from this life in 1992 at the age of 88. Since her last days were spent in pain and I was as certain as it is humanly possible to be, as to her eternal destiny, I really didn't grieve. In fact, it pleased me that my sisters and brother asked me if I would preach the funeral service. It gave me the opportunity to share with others the hope in Christ that I shared with Mom and with Dad, who had gone over 30 years before her.

On this Mother's Day I would like to tell of just a couple of memories about her.

When I was nine or ten years old, we lived on a ranch in south-west Arizona. Dad wasn't a christian at that time and it was impossible for Momma to take us to church. She was determined that somehow her children, (there were four of us at the time) would learn about Christ. Each Sunday evening, while Dad was finishing the evening chores, she would call us in and set us down around the radio. We were admonished that we were in CHURCH and should act accordingly. Then we would listen, more or less attentively to The Old Fashioned Revival Hour.

After I returned home following military service,and was married, church was the last thing on my mind. Since my wife and I didn't yet have a washing machine, we usually took the laundry to Mom and Dad's home on my day off. On these days, strange things happened. The Pastor of the Hagginwood Missionary Baptist Church always showed up for lunch! Momma just wouldn't give up and let her oldest son go to hell!!

Thank you, Mom; your persistence, planning and prayers paid off and I'll join you and Dad at the Lord's throne when we are all raised in His likeness.