A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER
Mother’s Day - 1984
My mother was taken in death when I was 20 years old. She had suffered through cancer operations, radiation treatments and the excruciating pain of this dreaded disease as it spread through her body. I was so very fortunate to have her through my growing years. She was mother to eight of us. It was not an easy role to give birth to all but her last one without the help of hospitals and doctors.
Bringing us into this world was just the beginning as she gave herself completely to the greatest work to which a woman can aspire. It seemed that she made motherhood her greatest priority. I can still see her standing by the side of my father in a queenly role. She be¬came the model as the creator of a happy home. There was no doubt in her children’s minds that she loved her husband with all her heart. There was a kind of oneness with them that compounded the image and ability of mother to act in our behalf as she took primary responsi¬bility and care to raise us in the security of her love. Her love was given in a selfless and enduring nature. It vibrated with patience, diligence, hope and faith as she fed, clothed, taught and comforted us. Mothers greatest desire was to give her children the recipe for a good and productive life. This she did by anchoring our souls to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I look back, I can now see that her every effort was to see that our feet were firmly planted on the path and our hands were holding to the rod that would bring into our lives the richness of a good and happy life and the great gifts of an eternal home.
I take great pride in the knowledge that it was not just those of us who were her children who expound her virtues. Cousins and friends of the family have made such statements to me as: “If there was ever an angel who walked the earth, it was your mother.” “Your mother was the kindest and most patient person I ever knew,” “I enjoyed being in your home. I was always treated like one of the family.” There was no doubt that the comfort and well-being of others was a special con¬sideration and activity that extended beyond the walls of our home. Through her leadership in auxiliaries of the church and her love of children, she was a mother to many.
Mother was a teacher. When I think of her now, I think of her great gift as a friend and a teacher. I found myself going to her when I was in need and more than that, she came to me when she could see that I was in need. I knew that she really cared about me. She cared what I was doing and what I said. When she heard me swear, she used a gently and profound method of helping me control my tongue. It was during a basketball game with a group of boys in our yard that she brought it to my attention and counseled me and then disciplined in a way that caused me to sit by her side in anguish and meditation while I watched my friends play. As a very young boy she found me experimenting with the smoking of an ivy twig, something I had seen the older boys do, and we sat down on a log near the scene of my actions in a very private discussion of the hazards of smoking. She described smoking as a terrible evil thing. It helped me to never use tobacco in any form. She helped me with school lessons and en¬couraged me to participate in sports, public speaking, music and dance. She was there when I performed and gave the encouragement I needed.
Mother has been gone for over 42 years but her influence is still being felt and seen in her posterity. She gave me a heritage that I cherish. I think of her in very fond memories and she still bea¬cons in her role of motherhood for me to keep my feet on the path that will lead to a happy reunion.
On this Mother’s Day it seemed appropriate that I have a few minutes with my mother in appreciation for giving me birth and nur¬turing me’ physically and spiritually through those formitive years when the foundation of my life was being laid. I know that I have a debt of gratitude that can only be paid to her through a life of serving the Lord and the needs of her family in the way she would have me do. There is no doubt in my mind that mother knows what I am doing and I must make her happy by what I do. I am so very greatful that my relationship with her was established on an eternal basis. My hope is that I will have the courage, faith and determination to keep the bonds of our relationship strong and enduring.
Ferren Bunker
Source:Brent Bunker