For the first time in a whole lot of years I’m getting to be home for Mother’s Day. I honestly am not sure the last time I’ve been home to celebrate this day with my mom. For those of you who have read my books I get so many questions asking me if Victoria is my mother. I always laugh and say, “Only the good parts.”

From the time I was a little girl I remember that my mom was beautiful. They used to get a kick out of her when we lived in Indiana because she had a garden and would wear her white slacks and high heels out there to hoe the garden. She hasn’t changed much. Even now when I’m home for the holidays she wears her high heels with her nightgowns. She’ll even sit in the floor with us to play cards or a game and slip them off and place them beside her. Then when she wants to get up and go into the kitchen, she’ll stand up and slip on her shoes. To go to the kitchen! We just shake our heads and then bust out laughing.

She is like Victoria in the fact that she is always “fully accessorized by 7 am.” No, she wouldn’t go anywhere with curlers in her hair but I can no longer say that she doesn’t own a pair of jeans. Because 08 was a breakout year for her. She now owns 3 pair! Her hair has been every shade Loreal owns. (Sorry, mom, but truth is truth…) And she has been an interior designer, owned a flower shop, organ player at church for a whole lot of years, and has been an amazing employee to 2 State Farm agents for the last 20 years.

She is the epitome of a lady.

But her beauty far exceeds her choices in heels or makeup. In fact, there is not one person who knows her that wouldn’t agree the beauty that is on the inside surpasses what is on the outside as if that is possible.

She loves her children with a depth few will ever know. She is the first one we call with good news. The first one we ask to pray for us. The first one to cry with us. The first one to believe in
us.

For her grandbabies she is the Nana that will always be 39! She takes them into her big chair, tells them all that God has designed them to be. Gives them the eye if they need it and prays for them with the depth of a true intecessor.

For her family that is left, now only one sister and a brother, out of nine children, she is friend and the place where the turkey is cooked and the memories are shared.

For her friends she is an encourager, a confidant, a wise counselor and a stable heart in an ever increasing wavering world.

For her husband of a whole lot of years…she has been a faithful companion. Loving in the hard times. Believing in the doubting years. And enjoying the company of evening walks, Saturday trips to the mall and vacations to places I can convince them to go.

I think though what I’m most amazed of is what I will probably never get to see. Each day she gets up, starts her day, walks into her glassed in office at State Farm and one by one people come in, sit in one of the chairs in front of her and when their finish, they leave, only for someone else to do it all over again. But the stories those chairs could tell.

She’s been known to stop in the middle of taking a payment for a car or homeowner’s insurance and pray for a sick child, a grieving widow, or a man dying of cancer. She’s also been known to hug a neck, pat a hand, offer a “Bless your heart”, invite someone to church, or just give them that amazing smile.

There are many who will line up in heaven to thank her. Not just because she makes the best chocolate cake you’ll ever eat, listens better than anyone I’ve ever known, cares for her family like few women do. But because no matter where she is, Walmart-State Farm- Lugoff House of Pizza- or Leo’s she touches the deepest places in people. And they know that she cares. Truly cares. And in a world where narcissism grows more prevalent by the day, it is a privilege to meet someone who clearly defines humility, grace and integrity. And she is my mama…

And on Sunday, even though I’d love her to cook me some fried chicken. I think I just might cook it for her…oh I just found out my dad is cooking steaks. Good enough!