If They Weren’t the Cleavers - She Wasn’t Exactly June (Part Deux)

If They Weren’t the Cleavers - She Wasn’t Exactly June (Part Deux)

I HAVE TO BE honest with you. Even as an adult, honoring Mom on a good day was difficult. And, on her bad days, well, let’s just say that I was shocked that God didn’t strike me dead before midnight.

Still, I was determined to do two things: (1) be an obedient daughter to God my Father, and (2) be a respectful daughter to my mother. So I had to get creative.

To start the process I decided to select those things I wanted to remember about her instead of the situations that were not so lovely. Consider this an exercise of selective amnesia on steroids! And as I get older I’m amazed at all the little things stored in my memory bank that allow me to remember her fondly and with great honor:

Orange sherbet Push-Ups. During a brief stint as a stay-at-home mom, Mom took me almost every day to our local small-town grocery store for a push-up ice cream. Remember the orange sherbet in a little cardboard container with the stick on the bottom? It was my favorite, and she treated me to it often. I can still feel the “sticky” on my fingers!

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” This was my theme song, and my mom sang it to me year-round. She had to sing really loud to be heard above the whir of the window air conditioner in July! She didn’t have a very nice voice, but she knew every word. Did you know there are two stanzas?

Homemade dill pickles. Mom wasn’t really into cooking, but every summer she packed fresh garlic, fresh dill, and homegrown cucumbers in her Ball jars. The house smelled rank with vinegar boiling on the stove, but the temporary sacrifice was worth it. She was known among my friends not for her “issues,” but for her fabulous pickles. Her pickles made me very proud.

Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

What you choose to remember about your parents can be their legacy and your peace.

I wish you peace.