May 10

Roy’s Ramblings

I grew up in small town rural Indiana; and I say that to say this: We celebrate EVERYTHING!!! Let me explain. The High School sports team sported real well and won some great level of competition … spontaneous parade with all of the police cars, fire trucks, and a giant farm truck full of “sporters” headed down main street making a great big fuss. Or, Aunt Betty (only name anyone ever knew her by) reached her 100th birthday – everyone in town drives by her house honking their horn and waving to her. Or, there is some secular or government holiday (4th of July, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, Valentine’s Day, Ground Hog Day, whatever) and the whole town is sold out of cards, flowers, candy, jewelry, ties, socks, and grilling meat. It is how I was raised.

But, as I have gotten older, and have had many good and /or traumatic experiences, I see many of these special events in a different light. This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day; and there are many times that I look at my wife (knowing that I married way out of my league) and think, “What an amazing Mom!!” But I also look at my own Mother and the struggles she had in raising me and think, “Well, she did the best she could.”

This coming Sunday one of the Scriptures is Proverbs 31:10-31 “The Wife of Nobel Character”. It is an impossible list of accomplishments. No one could accomplish this amount of honor, glory, activities, etc. And, in reading this list I am reminded of the many shirts, mugs, and plaques that read, “Best Mom Ever!!”, “#1 MOM”, and “My mom can beat up your mom”. Ok maybe not that last one … but you get the picture. There is a lot of pressure there. And, so many parents feel that they horribly fall short of those accolades.

Also, as we experience many of these special days … those of us that didn’t have the “Best” or have lost someone dear to us, or have some other trauma that makes these celebrations anything but celebrations … these days are hard, painful, depressing, and we try to avoid them.

I still want to celebrate everyone and their accomplishments: graduating school, winning a prize, first time going potty on the big potty … whatever it is … You Go!!! WOO HOO!!! But, I also what to let everyone know that if these special times are hard, I’m with you … and praying for us all.

Blessings All – And may we have a Great Mother’s Day!!

Pastor Roy