There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother. As significant as political, military, educational, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers. Their words are never fully forgotten, their touch leaves an indelible impression and the memory of the presence lasts a lifetime.
I ask you, “Who else is anywhere near that influential?”
For seventy-seven years my beautiful mother taught me about genuine love and Motherhood. She said, “Jackie, love is NOT a passion. It is the pulse of sacrifice…”
I watched her, as she maneuvered through the ups and downs of life.
She was fierce, strong and courageous, especially in the latter years without my Father.
She faced life with grace each day with acceptance of God’s hand and timing. She wanted to go with Dad seven years ago!
She had no fear of old age (which is the assumption that we still have many years of life ahead of us!)
“The length of our days is seventy years or eighty,
IF we have the strength; yet this span is but trouble and sorrow
And passes quickly and then we fly away.!” (Psa. 90:10)
She learned to be satisfied in the morning with His unfailing love. She was sometimes disappointed because at 101 and in perfect health, she thought she would just quietly slip away in her sleep, but alas,…she would awaken to another morning here.
She may not have sung out loud for joy (music was not her thing!), but she was glad for everyday.
She still looked forward to any, or all of us coming and visiting with her in her home.
She was a good listener…and I can remember my high school friends coming home with me…just to talk and be with her!
She was wise and discerning. It was impossible to fool her. She saw right through all of us!
She taught me, by example:
· To number my days… “Jackie, make them count!”
· To live in love and loyalty to my husband
· To be deliberate with my heritage
· To think generations and
· To see how short and quickly time passes.
See, Mama, I am paying attention. Your job has been well done…even up to the finish line…
Thank you for leading the way, for
Leaving a print for me to step into and
For showing me the pulse of sacrificial love…
I will love you forever…
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
