Early One Morning

‘I love you, Mother!  You would be 89 years old today, but TODAY, you are eternally young, vibrant, full of life, energy and the Light of Christ because you are alive forever in Heaven!  No longer do you struggle with the flesh, the attacks of satan, spiritual warfare, emotions, doubts, fears, doctors, hospitals or pain.  Today is forever, where you now live.’ 

‘Thank you, Lord, for a great mother who loved me, cared for me, was (brutally) honest with me, prayed and fasted for me, encouraged me and believed God for me.’ She suffered much in this life:  physical pain from ‘a beautiful body gone bad’, surgeries, deficiencies, emotional heartache, misunderstandings, criticism, the pain of children who followed their own selfish desires and paths, unfaithful husbands, a divorce, separation from her children, financial reverses.  But she faced the difficulties and daily forged ahead for her family, for others and yes, for herself, I believe. 

‘Thank you, Lord that Mother reached beyond the four walls of her home and cared for people around her.  Thank You that she surrendered her heart to You and lived for You and others.  She financially supported her growing family of foster children and grand children, raising them as her own.  She gave her all, full-heartedly to life and its challenges, always turning to You – and YOU answered prayer!  Her family, her extended family, friends and neighbors loved her and depended on her. 

Thank You, Lord, for the great memories I have of times with Mother, for the pictures in my mind and those captured on film of our time together.’  She and I laughed a lot!  We found things to laugh about even when she was in the hospital.  Once, while in her room at the Parsons, KS, hospital, she and I were laughing so hard and so loudly that she said to me, ‘We’ve got to stop this or they’re going to think I’m well and send me home!’   

Other times when I’d fly from WA to be with her at their little mobile home, we’d lie on the bed together and talk, or she’d lie on the bed giving me instructions.  Jr. came when I was there on one occasion and said, ‘Boy, she’s got your number!’  I loved doing what I could and I knew that Mother appreciated the care I gave her and daddy.  On another visit when she was in the nursing home, she said, ‘Thank you for your compassion.’  She had a thankful heart. 

She liked to hold my hand when I sat beside her in church.  I loved to see her stand and praise the Lord with tears streaming down her face, telling how she loved Him and how much He meant to her. 

Mother was proud of me, she was proud of each of her children.  I asked her once if she had a favorite and she said, ‘Sure, you are when you’re with me!’  And you WERE mother’s favorite when with her, her heart was full of love and full of life for so many. 

Yes, there were downsides and battles, times of doubt, discouragement, failure and pain – she talked about them from time to time.  But she didn’t quit.  One of her favorite poems, and she had many, was ‘Don’t Quit!’   She shared the words of that poem with lots of people; she lived the words of that poem!  

 ‘Thank you, Lord that my spirit is blessed by not only the memory of my mother, Mildred Rose Castleberry Gordon Presley, but by her spirit, alive and present with me even as I write this.  I sense her smile, her spirit, her happiness and pride for me.  Thank You that I know mother lives on in me, in my children and their children and in the lives of the many that she touched.’ 

Thank You, Lord for helping me remember my mother and what her life was all about, what my life is all about, what ALL life is about…Preparation for continuing life, perfect life, eternal life!

‘Happy Birthday, Mother, I love you!  I’m glad I told you often; thank you for telling me that you loved me, too.’