Happy Birthday Mama
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price (worth) is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10
Today, December 9th, is my mother’s 98th birthday. She was born in 1920, the first of five children born to her parents. They were poor as were many, many families of that era. Her adolescence and teenage years were spent during the Great Depression when just about everyone was poor. Times were extremely hard then.
My mother quit school in the eighth grade to pick cotton and do other tasks that children her age could do in order to help out her family. Her dad worked as a flagman for the railroad, and her mom’s time was spent rearing five children, probably the most difficult but most rewarding job as any. Her late teenage years were spent working in a hosiery mill. She said that back then her lunch was a “moon pie and an RC cola”. I think that was considered nutritious in those days. I suppose it did supply some carbs for energy. One could buy those items for a nickel each, but she likely made no more than 25 or 30 cents an hour.
Mama married Daddy in 1940 when she was 19. He was 22. In 1942, she was expecting their first baby, and Daddy was drafted into the army and was sent to Guadalcanal (my blog of 11/11/18 focuses on that time). She lost the baby, became blind and paralyzed for a time and was unable to work. She regained her sight and ability to walk, but was never in excellent health after that. They moved to another city when my Daddy found work after coming home from the army. A few years later, they adopted me and I am ever so grateful for that.
When I was about four, my Mama suffered a time of severe depression which caused her to be admitted to the state mental hospital. Back then there were no successful drugs or psychotherapy to help those who suffered depression or anxiety. The main method of treatment was electric shock, which caused her to lose some of her memory. My heart aches when I think about her having to endure such traumatic treatment. She did recover somewhat and was released after three months. During this time, my Daddy had to work, and I spent alternate weeks with my grandmother and my aunt. I remember that my Daddy bought a swing set for me and installed it in my Grannie’s yard. My cousin and I enjoyed playing on it, but I missed my Mama.
When my mother was 49 years old, she had a massive stroke due to extremely high blood pressure. She was in the hospital for three months. When she came home, my Daddy would exercise her legs, and she eventually could walk with a walker and sew and cook. I did much of the housework. The following year, I married a wonderful man whom my parents loved like a son. He was so helpful to me in caring for my parents as they aged. We had two children whom my parents loved like crazy.
My mother passed away on Christmas Day in 2001 at the age of 81. She and Daddy were married for 61 years. My Daddy had begun suffering from dementia. We put a picture of Mama beside his easy chair, and one day he looked at the picture and said “I miss her everyday”. Daddy passed away one year and seven months later at the age of 85. I miss both of them everyday.
My Mama had many talents. She loved to paint and produced many works of art based on scenes from the Holy Land. She sewed and made quilts. She played the piano by ear and loved to sing. She also wrote poetry. I read one of her poems at the funeral of my son. Perhaps I will publish one of them on my blog some day.
My Mama and Daddy loved each other, and they loved Jesus. They were an example to me, particularly showing me what that vow about “in sickness and in health” means. I tried to follow their example in caring for my husband when he suffered the effects of a brain tumor. They showed me the meaning of sacrificial love. I am grateful for their love and example that they set before me, particularly for teaching me to love and honor the Lord as they did. Happy Birthday Mama.