Serving Miracles

An anonymous poet once said, "The pouring of compassion, combined with the mixing of gifts and generosity, blend together to serve miracles."  The first time I saw this printed in a magazine, it was the artwork that caught my attention.  The artist had captured an old world feel, something between Renaissance and Renoir.  I read the words again, promptly tore the page out of the magazine, and taped it up on the wall where I could read it daily - sometimes several times a day.  In light of Mother's Day I would like to tell you about a very special woman who epitomizes every word of this short but powerful prose - my Mom.

The pouring of compassion... my Mom feels things deeply and even though her strong Southern upbringing won't always allow her to show it, her heart is as tender as fresh biscuit dough.  She will be the first volunteer to provide a meal for someone who's sick or recovering from surgery.   When she and my Dad travel, she always tucks away the complimentary shampoo, conditioner, bath gels, and lotions from the hotel so she can deliver them to a local ministry helping underprivileged women.  Whether she's praying (I've heard her) or writing in her journal (I've read a few entries), nine times out of ten it's about someone else and their needs.  When I had breast cancer and was overwhelmed by everyone wanting to take care of me, she touched my arm and said gently, "Sweetie, they love you.  Let them."

Combined with the mixing of gifts and generosity... my Mom has many gifts and she happily, generously shares them with anyone and everyone.  She has the gift of beauty but you won't find one vain bone in her tiny frame.  She has the gift of hospitality and can instantly make anyone feel at home, ready to put their feet up on the sofa and stay a while.  She has the gift of creativity and can make the simplest meal beautiful and memorable.  She has the gift of music and sings with a joyful spirit.  She has the gift of reading.  That may sound strange but no one - and I mean no one - can read a story to a child like my Mom.  She can literally make time stand still in a story.  I'm thankful my children have been the benefactors of that one!  Everything she does is blanketed in generosity.  She regularly goes above and beyond and finds tremendous satisfaction in making life a little sweeter for others.

Blend together to serve miracles... my Mom always made our house a home.  We may not have had a lot in the world's eyes but we didn't know it.  She made birthdays, Christmas, and sometimes a regular old Saturday morning magical - usually on a shoe string budget.  She worked a full time job, volunteered (for everything) at our church, kept our house clean and the laundry done, carted my brother and me to all our social and sporting events, and taught me by example to be a gracious, kind, compassionate woman.  I learned to respect others by watching her respect others.  I learned to do my best by watching her touch everything with excellence.  I learned the deep satisfaction of a 'Norman Rockwell' moment by helping to prepare a special meal and gather her family around the kitchen table.  And I learned to be fiercely loyal to my family by understanding that sometimes it's alright to not keep your mouth shut.

I lovingly refer to her as 'Miss Daisy' (when she's not around), my children call her 'Honey', and our friends know her as 'Mrs. C'.  She pours compassion, combines it with the mixing of gifts and generosity, and blends it all together to serve miracles.  She is simply, beautifully, my Mom.