“The Greatest Mother.”
At tremendous risk and with the real prospect of appearing supremely self-serving, I have to say “my greatest and favorite mother is not Gertrude.” That title has to go to my wife, Karla, the mother of our kids! Now admittedly, Karla never changed my diapers (hopefully that day is still a ways away) and she’ll have a tough time ever giving me as much money as Gertrude did, but Gertrude operated on a one-to-one ratio with me, while Karla labored under a 1-6 upside down ratio and a limited amount of resources. She kept both the house and the kids perfectly neat and clean, helped with homework until her eyeballs were falling out, and marshaled a family of seven people in a house built for four! And she did all that as a beautiful pastor’s wife, the most faithful and supportive helpmeet, and the woman who was key in Pioneer Baptist Church’s music, children’s, and ladies ministries. And in her “spare time” she taught at our Christian school, and coached volleyball and softball, winning enough “coach-of-the-year” plaques to fill up a banquet hall. Many mothers have done virtuously, but Karla excellest them all. And, as Yogi said, “You can look it up.”
Her children call her blessed to this very day, honoring and praising her for her labor of love, and I happily join in the chorus! There were so many times when she made sure the girls had new dresses, but just as surely she did not. There are still times when “her money” is “their money.” When heartache came, she turned into Gunny Sergeant Mitchell, improvising, adapting, and overcoming. If that heartache came in the general category of raising children, Karla loved her way through the tough times. When incurable progressive disease hit her right in the back of her head, she encountered the failure of the substantia nigra with a substantial counterattack, utilizing bravery and courage fueled by a Hebrews chapter eleven level of faith! She made a dope out of the loss of dopamine, terming herself “a mover and a shaker” and still kept her hands expertly on the keys of the church organ!
I can’t help but think of the Apostle Paul and the request he made of God to remove his own harmful and hurtful thorn in the flesh, and when God decreed otherwise, Paul made trust his mantra, saying, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” I have heard much the same words from Courageous and Faithful Karla! This virtuous mother has lived and exemplified those words for over sixteen years, and I have yet to hear her first complaint or “woe is me.” We can say to Karla as Paul said to the Corinthians “…and your zeal hath provoked very many.”
Gertrude was my mother, and there was nothing she would not do for me. She was a wonderful mother, I loved her dearly, and I rightly and properly honor her this Sunday and every day of my life. Gertrude was the greatest, but my dear wife, who I love, is even greater.
May God bless you on Mother’s Day, my wife Karla!
Love and Prayers to you all,
Pastor
143 K