Mother With A Heart to Serve

 Mother=Servant?

Mom Christmas 2013

Mother:  6. An appellation given to a woman who exercises care and tenderness towards another, or gives parental advice; as when one says,” a woman has been a mother to me.

“mother.” Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2014.http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/mother (10 May 2014).

Servant:  5. A person who voluntarily serves another or acts as his minister; as Joshua was the servant of Moses, and the apostles the apostles the servants of Christ. So Christ himself is called a servant, Is. 42. Moses is called the servant of the Lord, Duet. 34.

6. A person employed or used as an unstrument in accomplishing God’s purposes of mercy or wrath. So Nebuchadnezzar is called the servant of God. Jer. 25.

9. One that makes painful sacrifices in compliance with the weakness or wants of others.

“servant.” Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2014.http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/servant (10 May 2014).

I sited the definitions above not to say that mothers in general, or my Mother in specific, are subject to serving their husbands and children.  But I don’t think a true mother can truly be a mother if she has not yielded to serve.  She does not yield to serve out of lack of power.  She does not yield to serve out of lack of wisdom.  No she does not yield because of the lack of anything.  She yields out of the abundance that the Lord has placed in her.  Abundance of love, grace, humble pride and many more are the gifts that the Lord has placed in women.  They yield to minister to others.  They yield to be an instrument for accomplishing God’s purposes in this world.  They make painful sacrifices.  God made men and women different and equal.  Equal in receiving His grace and severing Him, but different in their make up.  Men and women are each instruments that God uses to show His characteristics.  God is perfect and is the possessor of all the positive traits of men & women.  In our mothers we see His traits of love, caring, service and so much more.

On this Mother’s Day eve, I come to express some of the beautiful characteristics God has put in my mother.  But my focus kept going back to her heart of service.

The Allred’s

My Mother is Sue Gentry.  She was the middle child and born to parents who worked keeping the land and keeping the home.  Much of her heart of service was learned by the example and teaching of her parents.  I’m blessed to say that Mom & Dad have taught me much of that through their own lives.

My Mother served the students of Stokes county for over 25 years.  She taught Home Economics/Home and Consumer Science at several schools.  She had an impact on many lives as she taught them skills that would help them succeed in life.  She served in many ways and made lives better.

King Library Staff

After she retired from the service of teaching, she re-deployed.  She served the people of Stokes County as an assistant at the King Public Library.  She helped people find the books they were looking for and she helped people in their job searches.  She helped keep the history of the county alive in the minds of people who came through the door.  But she really enjoyed serving the next generation by reading to the little ones.

Even though she has retired from the Library, she still serves those little ones by reading to the many classes of kids at King Moravian Preschool.  They are glad to have Ms. Sue come and visit.

My Mom has been serving at King Moravian all my life.  She, for many years, served the choir a meal before (and between) the two Christmas Eve Lovefeast services.  She serves in the Christmas Eve services as well.  She has been a part of the Mission Blitz.  King Moravian started, and now many other churches have joined in, to take the practical love of Christ out to the communities of Stokes County.  She serves each year, painting, cleaning and so much more.  These are just a few ways she has served at King Moravian.

Serving family is the area where she truly shines.  Oh, she has been behind the scenes making sure weddings go smoothly.  She has been behind the scenes making sure family gatherings are fun and meaningful.  But she has also worked hard to share family history with the younger folks, so that is does not get lost.  I’ve seen her serve and be with my grandparents (her parents) as their health declined and they went home to the Lord.  I’ve seen her help, shop with, and be a dear friend my Aunt Mary Ann.  I’ve seen her work hard to build and bless relationships with her siblings and my Dad’s.  I’ve seen her bless my cousins.  I’ve seen her serve Mary Etta (Grandmother Gentry) as a daughter-in-love in so many ways.

Mom & Dad

I look and admire the marriage she and Dad have.  They work hard at it and it is so fruitful.  She and Dad love to travel together.  She blesses him with love and grace.  She has been his rock as he dealt with heart issues last year.

Mom has been an encourager in my live each step of the way.  She has encouraged me to think bigger, try new things and walk out commitments.  She didn’t try to make my life her vision but let me make my own.  She had encouraged me and helped me in hard times.  I look at her and am thankful.  She is not perfect, but I’ve seen her get back up and walk on.  I’ve seen her walk out the battle against breast cancer.  I’ve seen her make it through.  Now I see her fighting again against cancer.  She leans on Dad, welcomes my help and help from family.  I see her graciously receive help from people at church.  Oh, I see the Lord working in her in this battle to make her more like Him.  I see her struggle and seek His face.  I see her dig deeper and rely on the Lord and I’m humbled.

Mom & Dad at the Station

So you see, when I hear the word servant my mind brings forth the image of my parents.  My Mom has a heart to serve.  I would garner to say that your’s does too.  I believe that the Lord has given us all a desire to serve.  But Christ seems to develop a heart of service in the souls of mothers.  It is like He takes that bit of Himself and puts it into the lives of Christian mothers.  He shows off, for His glory, in Moms in this way.  So take a moment to thank the Lord for your mother.  Then take the time and effort to put down into worlds your thanks for her.  She needs to hear it.  Servants grow weary and need to be refreshed by the Lord.  Be one of the instruments He uses to refresh the dry spots in the servant called Mom!

Mom and I by the bridge