Dear Aubrey Kate,
Today, on our fifth Mother's Day together, I'd like to introduce you to some of the women in our family. Some women you have never met. At least one, I've never met. Women I miss. Generations of strength and resiliency and bravery. Women who have much to teach us through their stories. And their stories are now your stories, precious girl.
You see that picture? That baby? That's me. Yep. Your momma was once a baby. Nana's baby. Her first baby. Just like you are my first baby. And that's Nana holding me. Next to her is my Grandmother. Nana's momma. Her name was Jean. Grandmother is sitting next to my great-grandmother, Sylvie and then, last, her dad, my great-great-grandfather, Brack McCullough. That's right, Rhys is named after him!
There are so many stories to tell you about these women. And Granddaddy McCullough and his wife, Hattie Lou. Stories Nana and I will fill your heart and mind with as you grow. These women lived lives of sacrifice. To their families and to the people in their community.
Hattie Lou could heal with her touch.
Grandmother Faulkner cooked the most mouth-watering biscuits. She also challenged and frustrated the people in her life. There are lessons even in our not-so-nice behaviors.
My grandmother lost a daughter to cancer. And even though she hurt, she got up every day, walked into a prison full of women and taught them how to read and write. Women who needed her and the love she could provide as their teacher.
Your Nana, my momma, she went back to college with two little people of her own. Got her bachelor's degree, then her master's degree and then her National Teaching Certification. All while raising Uncle Adam and me (bless her), being a wife to Puddin, caring for her own mother and father through their cancer battles AND teaching hundreds of kiddos year after year. All that...THAT is a big deal.
One day, we will all sit together in heaven. If they were here with us now, I know they would be as in love and awe-struck by you as I am. What would they say to you? What would their advice be? This is what I hear them saying to you through their stories:
Hattie Lou would lean down to say, trust the power beyond yourself.
She could heal no one but Christ could heal though her. Jesus sent out his disciples with His own blessing and power to "heal every disease and sickness." (Matthew 10:1) We often don't draw on that power because we trust a great deal in the healing power of modern medicine. God has provided us with those medical breakthroughs and, oh sweet girl, He works amazing miracles within modern medicine. YOU are a miracle brought to us through modern medicine. But I know Hattie Lou, all six feet American Indian of her, would remind you, there is power in the name of Jesus.
Grandmother Faulkner might tell you of grace and peace.
Grandmother was a woman of immense strength. Oh, and she was smart. Even though she was never able to attend school like little girls do now, she was sharp as a tact, as Southerns say. But grace and peace, she was not known to be generous with those. I suspect she has learned must in the arms of her Savior. Perhaps she would tell you everyone deserves grace. Keep your standards high, as she did, but lean into Christ and offer more grace and mercy than criticisms and judgements. Don't frustrate those God places in your life but seek peace. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest in righteousness." ~ James 3:17-18.
My precious Grandmother might tell you of hope and grief and beauty.
Grandmother has been gone for over twenty years now. And there are still days when I ache, missing her and longing to sit in the kitchen listening to her and my mom talking. The grief she endured during her life was enormous. Yet, she carried on. There is a great testimony in continuing on. She taught, she loved, she found every gift beautiful. Her voice saying, "Oh Sandra!" as she opened every present for every occasion is a treasure. I can hear her now.
I think she would tell you (and me) to see every day together as a gift to treasure. Much more than a package we would get from underneath the Christmas tree. She would remind us our hope in not in this world but in our eternal life with our Father. Never forget that hope. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Serve the Lord's people in need. Practice hospitality." ~ Romans 12:12-13
Nana will teach you so very much as you grow. I'll let her speak for herself (I know she appreciates that).
BUT, I will tell you what she has taught me. Nana taught me to love fiercely.
One of the greatest blessings of my life is simply, I know my mother loves me. Not every child can say that. And some can say they know it in their head but they might not feel that love in their heart. Loving with words but not with actions. My mother loved me, and everyone else in her life, with both. She was there to listen, guide, teach and hug. Sure, she got mad at us. Because we didn't, say, clean the kitchen when we had the WHOLE DAY AT HOME to make that happen. For example. But I never doubted her love. Even in the moments of my disobedience.
Her love, her fierce love, comes because she loves her Father. She can love because He loves us. Apart from Him, there is not love. He IS love. And He lovingly fills us mommas up with lots of it to pass along to you, our kiddos. Because of that love, we see and learn and feel the love of Our Father. "A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you much love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." ~John 13:34-35
As for me? Well, we're really just getting started. Every day is new and exciting and a chance to learn about each other. But what I PRAY I leave as my legacy to you is that of gratitude. Every moment of every day, there is always more to be grateful for than not.
A heart of gratitude recognizes the Power of God, the Grace and Peace of Christ, the Hope in our Savior and the Love of our Father.
From those revelations, we can live a life of service to others, of radical gratitude, of enormous generosity.
That is the legacy I pray we leave for you. All the women in your life. All the stories that have come before in those generations.
My precious daughter, I am anxious for the times we will talk about these women. The hours of laughter and tears we will have with Nana as we share their lives with you. They are a part of you and, as you grow and hear, they will begin to feel like a part of you. They are a gift to you on this Mother's Day. Apart from the Savior they served, these women and their legacies of healing, grace, hope, love and gratitude are the greatest gifts we will ever give to you.
I love you, my miracle daughter,
Momma
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