Mothers Day- Who Was Nell

Sunday, Mothers Day, 2018

 

It’s Mothers Day…officially declared and on the calendar. It’s a retail hay- day  featuring stores stocked with fashion, food and flowers.  My head is stuffed with memories.  I miss my Mother today.  The tears flow.

If I could call her, she would say, “do something special for your boys.  Cook for them.  Be sure they have a little money.”

Shortly before she died, Nell asked my mother in law to look out for Kris.  He was the only one home with me.  She said, ” be sure he has a little money all the time.  Molinda may forget and a boy needs some money.”

Birdie, my mother in law promised to watch over us.  She did, until she died.

Nell was a bottle of glue.  She held the related family together in the palm of her hand.

With 3 brothers and 7 sisters, she had a handful.

Nell had a personal relationship with God.  Notice, I did not say a formal education about God…she had a personal relationship. I didn’t always understand her relationship. Sometimes I resented it …sometimes I thought she didn’t  understand boundaries did not need to be so tight.

She took the parts of the Bible she read literally.  Sins included, make up, hair cuts, pants, dancing, movies, comic books, secular music, ballgames, everything fun.  For me, that was hell. I couldn’t have friends because I wasn’t allowed to do most of the innocent things they did.  Much later in life, she realized the power of Grace and that she had been too “strict” with me.

On the other hand, I do believe it was her intercession with God that kept me alive.  My Mother prayed, hours and hours every day.  I lived life a bit like a sea saw….sometimes being good and sometimes very bad.  When I needed help, I called her to pray.

Sick?  Call Nell.  She would pray and most of the time you would get better.  It was that relationship she had with God!

She loved horses.  I saw a picture of her riding bareback standing up….yeah, Nell.  Daddy always said she was afraid of everything. I never saw him ride a horse much less riding one standing up.

Stories of her in her teen age years were colorful and more fun than the line walking Pentecostal woman I called Mother. I made my choice to emulate her rebellious youth!

One snare…she taught me what she knew about God…in simple language….when you let Him in your Heart he goes everywhere.When you sin, He’s right there in the form of a conscience that saying this is Wrong.  Unfortunately, I had to try everything she told me not to do just to make sure she was right.  Most of the time she was.

She loved Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor..  I decided very young Elizabeth Taylor would be my mentor…I did follow her path for marriages.

Nell Was My Mother

Nell died many years ago. Nell Was my Mother.  I never called her Mommy.  Recently, I realize the closeness the word Mommy generates when I hear my two granddaughters refer to their Mommy.  Nell rescued me from a hospital when I was 3 months old and adopted me when I was 13.

She lives in my heart and memories.

Nell taught me t0 have a Relationship with God.  Talk to Him daily.

1. Be honest.  Never Steal.

2. Respect your elders.

3. Love your enemies. Pray for them and heap coals of fire on them.

4. Keep a Clean House.

5. Press your clothes and mend them.

6. You are the best.  Remember, you are blessed and can  make money  sitting on a rock! God is your Source.

She asked me to read the Bible Daily and to memorize scripture. Sometimes when a scripture comes to my mind I know it because she taught me.

A juvenile diabetic at the age of 13 when insulin was experimental, Nell lived with the threat it could steal her life.  She died at 74 totally whole, not overweight, had all of her natural teeth, her eye site and totally competent.  God is good.  Her prayer had been to live to see me grown.

I was grown and married at 17.  My son was born when I was 18. I became a Mother.  Nell was a Grandmother! I wish I had been a better daughter. I wish I had been a better mother. Fact is, I was good as I could be at the time.

Nell was and is  my Mother…I loved you then, I love you more now.  Happy Mothers Day. Please intercede with God for me.  I am a work in progress!  Until I see you again, I will

go forth & prosper

Molinda Sue