Wednesday Wisdom | Lessons from Mom – The Devotional Guy™

In Texas lore, especially in Dallas, 88 is a legendary number of great significance. The greatest Dallas Cowboy’s receivers wore the jersey inscribed with 88.

Even better—-TODAY is my mom’s 88th birthday! Mom is resilient, adaptive, and a survivor. A strong woman of faith, she is also kind and our family’s social butterfly.

An eternal optimist, she’s grateful for her relatively good health. Mom is always looking at the positive and quick to show the silver-lining in a seemingly bleak situation. Over the years, I’ve realized that she doesn’t spend time entertaining negative thoughts.

Since turning 80, she’s encountered a couple of physical ailments and by her own account, sees doctors more frequently than she once did. As she likes to say, gleefully, “Getting old ain’t for sissies!“ Mom is always friendly and always kind.

Over the years, I’ve learned more than a few things from her.

Mom loves to see things grow.

For as long as I can remember, Mom has planted pots filled with flowers and gardens teeming with plants. In part, to attract the birds, especially cardinals and hummingbirds. Mom is happy to share reports of a flower blooming or a plant growing. Growing things, whether it’s flowers or friendships keeps you young at heart and draws people to you.

Mom loves to create.

A lifelong artist, mom has worked with clay making faces and figurines. In her later years, she’s focused more on drawing and painting, although she’s been a creative person all of my life. It’s one of the main ways she’s gotten to know loads and loads of people. Art introduced a sweet German lady to many people in her adopted East Texas home. Even though art is something you make for you, creativity is meant to be shared. It brings her joy to create something and share that joy with others.

Mom loves socializing with people.

As I mentioned above, mom has never met a stranger. My wife, Terri, is the one who dubbed my mom “our little social butterfly.” Mom has friends that she’s had for nearly 50 years and she continues meeting and making new friends now. Her joy and love of people is really something to watch and see. She is the epitome of the saying that people will always remember you for the way you treated them.

I hope this gives you a glimpse into the beautiful soul my mom is. She’s a blessing to so many and people are grateful to call her their friend. At 88, mom is very open about sharing the time she’s got left with people she loves. None of us know the amount of time we are blessed to live, but I’m happy that my mom continues living her best life now by bringing joy and kindness into our world. People will remember how you treated them. No doubt, people will remember my mom treating them well.

Happy 88, Mom!