As we as a country celebrate this day, we all have different thoughts of what today really means. Memorial Day is the unofficial holiday that kicks off summer! Days of sunshine filled with laughter; weekends at the lake; lemonade stands on the corner; jars of lightning bugs at dusk. Today is a day for hot dogs and ribs on the grill and relaxing with family and friends.
But in reality, Memorial Day has little to do with Kingsford Edge charcoal or mustard potato salad. It has everything to do with sacrifice and selflessness. It should serve as a reminder to all Americans that there was a price paid for our freedom, and there continues to be a price paid to keep it.
Memorial Day for me is a reminder of my father in law, E.L. Sweet. He began serving in the Army at age 18, and he later re-enlisted for a second stint in the Air Force. He felt that it was his duty to serve his country, and he did so with much pride. He left for boot camp a young man full of life and vigor. He returned a man changed forever. He returned a man with memories that would haunt him for the next sixty years. He returned a man proud of his country, but tortured by part of a bullet that could not be removed from his ankle. He returned a man whose mental stability would be forever compromised by the things he had witnessed in war. He remained a man who loved this country and everything for which it stood.
I am reminded of my dad's cousin, who I affectionately called "Uncle T." Uncle T served with General Patton and was wounded several times. His mother died while he was overseas, but he continued to serve proudly through his grief. I am proud of the two purple hearts his wife gave me after his death, and I cherish those as part of his memory.
I am reminded of my Uncle Bobby who served in the Navy. As a little girl, I didn't understand that he was serving in an important part of this country's history. I remember how handsome I thought he looked in his white sailor uniform. I loved all the brass buttons and medals on it! I also loved the dolls he sent me from Vietnam, Korea and other parts of Asia. Today, as I look at those same dolls, I know the important part he played there.
I am reminded of a sweet, little, curly-haired boy named Ryan. His mother, Monika, is a dear friend, and I remember Ryan climbing in her lap as a toddler. In recent years, Ryan served in this country's conflicts fighting terror. Ryan served us well. He protected us from an unknown enemy. Ryan's body now rests in Arlington, and all who loved him grieve the loss of a young man who was so full of life and possibilities. Ryan loved this country, and now he rests with thousands of others who also paid the ultimate sacrifice for it.
As this day comes to a close, I pray for the men and women who continue to serve for our freedom. My freedom. My children's freedom. Your freedom. I pray for their families, who also sacrifice for that freedom. Freedom comes with a price. For some it is the ultimate sacrifice of death. For others, it is debilitating injury or psychological issues. I am thankful for their willingness to serve for me.
I also pray for God's blessings on our men and women in service; for their families; for their children; and for this county.
Katie, Colton, Conner & Jeff
My soul mate, Jeff, and Katie, Colton and Conner, the three gifts from God that call me "Mom"
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Mother's Love
When my mother suffered a massive stroke in 2006, I quickly realized that my life was forever changed. The one person on whom I had always relied; the best friend who had always stood beside me; my biggest cheerleader and fan; and the one person who could come down on me the hardest--was slipping away. Although her body was quickly deteriorating, her mind was sharp. God gave me a wonderful gift of five weeks to sit together, talk, think back on old times, cry together, and to say goodbye. One day in the nursing facility, one of the workers commented that I looked like my mother. I had never seen that. My mother was a fair skin, auburn haired, petite framed China doll in my eyes. I had dark hair and dark skin with larger frame, and looked more the rag-doll type. The attendant went on to comment that a mother's love was the closest we can get to God's love in this life. Those words rang in my ears in the days to come, and I still feel they are some of the truest I've ever heard.
I was blessed to have a Godly mother that, I believe, instilled in me the basics of right and wrong. She taught me from a servant's heart, and she taught me how to love my husband, my children, my friends, and even those not so dear to my heart. Godly mothers are indeed a gift of God, and on this Mother's Day, I thank Him for mine. I pray that I can be half the mother to my children that my mother was to me. As I watched my mother transition from this life to the next, I realized what God had really done for me when chose Mary Carvell Coleman to be MY mother!
I was also blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law. Jeff's mom, Hazel Sweet, was a little dynamo! Although not very big in size, "Mom" always had a heart the size of Texas. She could outwork, out-cook, and outwit most of us easily! As we dealt with her later years and her battle with Alzheimer's, I continually was thankful that God put her in my life. Her life was not always happy, but she lived it with integrity and a dependence upon the Lord. Her life was filled with times and events that were very difficult. Times and events when many would have possibly given up on life and God. As we watched "Mom" make that same transition into eternity last year, I was blessed to see what a gift God gave me in letting me be part of that "Sweet" family in North Carolina. And I am also blessed to know that she is with my mother, and that heaven is a brighter (and funnier!) place with them there!
Over the past week, I have watched another important woman in my life make that transition. My sweet Aunt Barbara battled Alzheimer's beginning in her mid-60s. As my mother's baby sister, Barbara Jean (all good Southern women have double names!) was a huge part of my entire life. Her love of singing and genuine laughter will always be wonderful memories for me. During her final days, God gave her a renewed clarity of mind, and we were able to have talks--real talks--like we had not in several years due to her dementia. I must admit that as I said goodbye to her for the last time in this life the other night, I was hit with a little envy because I knew she would be with my mother, my grandmother, my mother-in-law--soon. And now she is. What a blessing!
Music has always been such a special part of my life. Certain songs "speak" to me, and there is a new country song out that has more liked "screamed" at me recently. The title of the song is "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away." Some of the lyrics are:
If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away.
Yes, it would be nice to sit on a cloud and talk for a while, wouldn't it? If Heaven wasn't so far away--well, someday it won't be. For those of us who have lost those wonderful women in our lives, that day of reunion is something for which we all aspire--one of these days!
God has blessed my life beyond belief with three absolutely beautiful children. My boys are my rocks--rough and tough! Colton and Conner are the best boys I could ever want. In Katie, God gave me an angel right here on earth. Raising a child with special needs can be challenging, but the rewards of having Katie have far outweighed the problems. Katie has never spoken a word. I've never heard her say, "Mama" or "I love you." But I know those things without words. I see it in her smile. I hear it in her laughter. I feel it (literally) when Katie, now 20, still climbs up on my lap to be rocked. God gave me Katie for a purpose--His purpose. There are days when I'm still not sure what that purpose is, but I know He knows it. That's all that really matters. God made Katie so special, and I have been blessed that He gave her to me!
God also blessed my life with a fourth child. A child I never held; a child I never got to watch grow up; a child who, for whatever reason, never lived outside of my body here on earth. A child who died before I knew him in 2000. But this is still a child that I love dearly. My child that is waiting for me in Heaven, and my sweet baby that I will one day meet.
Through my life, I've had wonderful friends and family who have lost their own children to death--much too early. Young lives taken away in the prime of youth. Yet, I've seen in these mothers a remarkable faith--in sometimes just getting up and putting one foot in front of the other to get through another day. I've had precious friends whose hearts have broken as their children have turned their backs on them, or have chosen the wrong paths in life. I've had friends and family who were not blessed with a wonderful mother, but I truly believe God has put others in their lives that have filled that void. I've known wonderful women who were never blessed with children, but who took an earnest interest in the lives of other young people, and by whom many lives were touched in such powerful ways.
This Mother's Day, thank God for those women He has put in your life--whether it be your mother, mother-in-law, daughter, or friend. If you are still blessed to have your mother here on earth, take an extra moment to smile with her; hold her hand; cherish her. Be proud when someone tells you that your remind them of your mom. I know I surely am! If you have lost your earthly mother, take confidence in knowing that Heaven is all the sweeter with her in it, and one day, Heaven won't be so far way. You can know with certainty that you will be with her again--this time, for eternity. If you are a mother, cherish those special times with your children. Children are such a blessing--lent to us as parents, for only a short while.
A mother's love indeed may be the closest we can get to God's love in this life. Let's all try to love, not only our children, or our mothers or friends, but everyone in our lives, with that type of love.
I wish for all of you a wonderful Mother's Day 2011!
I was blessed to have a Godly mother that, I believe, instilled in me the basics of right and wrong. She taught me from a servant's heart, and she taught me how to love my husband, my children, my friends, and even those not so dear to my heart. Godly mothers are indeed a gift of God, and on this Mother's Day, I thank Him for mine. I pray that I can be half the mother to my children that my mother was to me. As I watched my mother transition from this life to the next, I realized what God had really done for me when chose Mary Carvell Coleman to be MY mother!
I was also blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law. Jeff's mom, Hazel Sweet, was a little dynamo! Although not very big in size, "Mom" always had a heart the size of Texas. She could outwork, out-cook, and outwit most of us easily! As we dealt with her later years and her battle with Alzheimer's, I continually was thankful that God put her in my life. Her life was not always happy, but she lived it with integrity and a dependence upon the Lord. Her life was filled with times and events that were very difficult. Times and events when many would have possibly given up on life and God. As we watched "Mom" make that same transition into eternity last year, I was blessed to see what a gift God gave me in letting me be part of that "Sweet" family in North Carolina. And I am also blessed to know that she is with my mother, and that heaven is a brighter (and funnier!) place with them there!
Over the past week, I have watched another important woman in my life make that transition. My sweet Aunt Barbara battled Alzheimer's beginning in her mid-60s. As my mother's baby sister, Barbara Jean (all good Southern women have double names!) was a huge part of my entire life. Her love of singing and genuine laughter will always be wonderful memories for me. During her final days, God gave her a renewed clarity of mind, and we were able to have talks--real talks--like we had not in several years due to her dementia. I must admit that as I said goodbye to her for the last time in this life the other night, I was hit with a little envy because I knew she would be with my mother, my grandmother, my mother-in-law--soon. And now she is. What a blessing!
Music has always been such a special part of my life. Certain songs "speak" to me, and there is a new country song out that has more liked "screamed" at me recently. The title of the song is "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away." Some of the lyrics are:
If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away.
Yes, it would be nice to sit on a cloud and talk for a while, wouldn't it? If Heaven wasn't so far away--well, someday it won't be. For those of us who have lost those wonderful women in our lives, that day of reunion is something for which we all aspire--one of these days!
God has blessed my life beyond belief with three absolutely beautiful children. My boys are my rocks--rough and tough! Colton and Conner are the best boys I could ever want. In Katie, God gave me an angel right here on earth. Raising a child with special needs can be challenging, but the rewards of having Katie have far outweighed the problems. Katie has never spoken a word. I've never heard her say, "Mama" or "I love you." But I know those things without words. I see it in her smile. I hear it in her laughter. I feel it (literally) when Katie, now 20, still climbs up on my lap to be rocked. God gave me Katie for a purpose--His purpose. There are days when I'm still not sure what that purpose is, but I know He knows it. That's all that really matters. God made Katie so special, and I have been blessed that He gave her to me!
God also blessed my life with a fourth child. A child I never held; a child I never got to watch grow up; a child who, for whatever reason, never lived outside of my body here on earth. A child who died before I knew him in 2000. But this is still a child that I love dearly. My child that is waiting for me in Heaven, and my sweet baby that I will one day meet.
Through my life, I've had wonderful friends and family who have lost their own children to death--much too early. Young lives taken away in the prime of youth. Yet, I've seen in these mothers a remarkable faith--in sometimes just getting up and putting one foot in front of the other to get through another day. I've had precious friends whose hearts have broken as their children have turned their backs on them, or have chosen the wrong paths in life. I've had friends and family who were not blessed with a wonderful mother, but I truly believe God has put others in their lives that have filled that void. I've known wonderful women who were never blessed with children, but who took an earnest interest in the lives of other young people, and by whom many lives were touched in such powerful ways.
This Mother's Day, thank God for those women He has put in your life--whether it be your mother, mother-in-law, daughter, or friend. If you are still blessed to have your mother here on earth, take an extra moment to smile with her; hold her hand; cherish her. Be proud when someone tells you that your remind them of your mom. I know I surely am! If you have lost your earthly mother, take confidence in knowing that Heaven is all the sweeter with her in it, and one day, Heaven won't be so far way. You can know with certainty that you will be with her again--this time, for eternity. If you are a mother, cherish those special times with your children. Children are such a blessing--lent to us as parents, for only a short while.
A mother's love indeed may be the closest we can get to God's love in this life. Let's all try to love, not only our children, or our mothers or friends, but everyone in our lives, with that type of love.
I wish for all of you a wonderful Mother's Day 2011!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Reflections
The events of the past few days have changed lives--and possibly our world--forever. The deadly tornadoes throughout the south have devastated families; destroyed dreams; and debilitated entire communities. The disaster is unparalleled by anything in my recent memory in the southeast possibly since Hurricane Katrina. I cannot imagine the feelings of those impacted directly by this devastation. The overwhelming sense of loss, coupled with a strong determination to "get back up," is shown time and time again in such circumstances.
I think back to the flooding in our home of Nashville, Tennessee in 2010, and the concern that I have now for the continual rain we are having at this time. The rivers are rising, and many are coming out of their banks. Throughout the country, nature seems to be taking a revenge for some unknown reason. Throughout the world, storms, earthquakes, floods wreak havoc as man stands helpless--overall unable to intervene.
The news of Bin Laden's death has been one of mixed emotions--publicly and privately. A nation still grieving the loss of so many on 9/11 may have found a bit of closure in the death of the mastermind of that day of terror. The weights on the hearts of families who lost loved ones on that fateful day may be somewhat lighter. The open celebrations and chanting in the streets show a country that is relieved and joyful that part of the nightmare is over. But is it? Will his death enrage other extremists to do more violence against our country? Will the publicity over another country's involvement in sheltering the man lead to another war for our troops? Will our fears truly ever be put to rest?
Evil is alive and well in our country, and it will not end with the death of one man. In President Obama's statement earlier this week, he stated that we are a "nation under God." That comment is rarely made these days. On a recent trip to Washington, I was made aware of the fact--not supposition--but fact--that this country was founded on godly ideals and morals. The United States was born as a result of people wanting to worship--needing to worship--God. It was a young land based on the belief of trust in God. It was a new world of hope and dreams based on godly principles.
But now it is politically incorrect to speak of those foundations. We separate our religious views and beliefs form our secular ones. We tell our children that prayer is not allowed in the school room. We tell them that they are not allowed to speak of God in a locker room before a football game. We tell them that it is fine for them to believe, but just keep it to themselves.
This political correctness has allowed evil to take a foothold in our country. I think God is ashamed of His children here because we have not taken a stronger stand against this evil. I don't know what the answers are, but I know the questions. What is it going to take for America to return to God? What can we do as Christians to help? What are our children going to face in their lives because of the complacency of our generation? In what kind of world will my grandchildren and great-grandchildren live?
I don't necessarily believe that all disasters like earthquakes or a tornado outbreak is God's wrath on His children. I do believe though that such things show His power, and can--or maybe should--serve as a wake-up call that WE--as individuals; as families; as schools; as churches; as a nation--NEED HIM. As we honor a day of prayer later this week in our nation, we all need to fall on our knees and beg God to have mercy on us as a country. We need to ask him to forgive us--individually and collectively--for not standing strong and publicly as a Christian nation.
We need to pray for faith--even as small as a grain of mustard seed. A faith that will stand through these turbulent times. A faith that will not falter when our world collapses around us. A faith that will not shake in fear at the thought of terrorist acts. A faith to be an example to our children that it is correct to stand up for your beliefs. A faith that will not shatter when the evil of this world hurls its darts your way. A faith that knows the best is not in this world--but in an eternity with God.
I pray this for our country; for my family; for my friends; for my church; and for myself.
I think back to the flooding in our home of Nashville, Tennessee in 2010, and the concern that I have now for the continual rain we are having at this time. The rivers are rising, and many are coming out of their banks. Throughout the country, nature seems to be taking a revenge for some unknown reason. Throughout the world, storms, earthquakes, floods wreak havoc as man stands helpless--overall unable to intervene.
The news of Bin Laden's death has been one of mixed emotions--publicly and privately. A nation still grieving the loss of so many on 9/11 may have found a bit of closure in the death of the mastermind of that day of terror. The weights on the hearts of families who lost loved ones on that fateful day may be somewhat lighter. The open celebrations and chanting in the streets show a country that is relieved and joyful that part of the nightmare is over. But is it? Will his death enrage other extremists to do more violence against our country? Will the publicity over another country's involvement in sheltering the man lead to another war for our troops? Will our fears truly ever be put to rest?
Evil is alive and well in our country, and it will not end with the death of one man. In President Obama's statement earlier this week, he stated that we are a "nation under God." That comment is rarely made these days. On a recent trip to Washington, I was made aware of the fact--not supposition--but fact--that this country was founded on godly ideals and morals. The United States was born as a result of people wanting to worship--needing to worship--God. It was a young land based on the belief of trust in God. It was a new world of hope and dreams based on godly principles.
But now it is politically incorrect to speak of those foundations. We separate our religious views and beliefs form our secular ones. We tell our children that prayer is not allowed in the school room. We tell them that they are not allowed to speak of God in a locker room before a football game. We tell them that it is fine for them to believe, but just keep it to themselves.
This political correctness has allowed evil to take a foothold in our country. I think God is ashamed of His children here because we have not taken a stronger stand against this evil. I don't know what the answers are, but I know the questions. What is it going to take for America to return to God? What can we do as Christians to help? What are our children going to face in their lives because of the complacency of our generation? In what kind of world will my grandchildren and great-grandchildren live?
I don't necessarily believe that all disasters like earthquakes or a tornado outbreak is God's wrath on His children. I do believe though that such things show His power, and can--or maybe should--serve as a wake-up call that WE--as individuals; as families; as schools; as churches; as a nation--NEED HIM. As we honor a day of prayer later this week in our nation, we all need to fall on our knees and beg God to have mercy on us as a country. We need to ask him to forgive us--individually and collectively--for not standing strong and publicly as a Christian nation.
We need to pray for faith--even as small as a grain of mustard seed. A faith that will stand through these turbulent times. A faith that will not falter when our world collapses around us. A faith that will not shake in fear at the thought of terrorist acts. A faith to be an example to our children that it is correct to stand up for your beliefs. A faith that will not shatter when the evil of this world hurls its darts your way. A faith that knows the best is not in this world--but in an eternity with God.
I pray this for our country; for my family; for my friends; for my church; and for myself.
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