Last week, we had a funeral to celebrate the impact my mother, Valoa, had on many lives. She was (and is) a remarkable woman. She didn’t have a “fancy life” and never wanted to be the center of attention, so it is ironic that I focus on her now. I do so because I love her and there are things to learn from her life and from the things she loved.
Because of her, I…
- learned to read, and to love reading, as well as writing
- knew I was loved and therefore,
- learned to make better choices
- was inspired to look with faith to Christ, serve others and act selflessly
- knew the value of work, rest and relaxation
- valued education, and got a college degree
- saw fierce determination in the face of adversity, love in the face of sorrow, peace in the face of a storm
- learned how to listen and value people (I’m still working on it)
- cherish watching sunrises and sunsets with family
Mom believed in love at first sight and married her sweetheart, my dad. Life has never been easy, but it doesn’t mean life was without joy. She found joy.