Titus 2 Men And Women

~ Julie Fink: A Tale That Is Told
by Julie Fink

If my mother were still living, she would be sixty years old this month. How I wish that you could have known my mother. She was such a good example of so many things.

My mother was a good wife. She loved my father unconditionally and served him unselfishly. I remember her getting up early every day to fix him coffee, make his breakfast, and iron his shirts. I remember her going to bed each night freshly bathed, lathered with scented lotion and perfume, and ready to be a comfort to my father as he returned home each night after working two and three jobs. I remember her siding with him about everything and never allowing any of us to disagree with him or to become discontented with the decisions that he made. What a good wife my mother was.

My mother was a good housekeeper. I remember that our house was always clean and well organized ~ even with six children. I remember that dinner was always made, no matter who was going to be home for it or not. I remember that the dishes were always washed right after dinner. I remember my mother staying up late to tidy up after we had gone to bed, and rising up early to start the laundry before any of the rest of us were awake. I remember my mother singing while she did her chores, and the joy she felt when her jobs were "well done." What a good housekeeper my mother was.

My mother was good at mothering her six children. I remember her always being thankful that God gave her a large family. I remember the way that she kept us all neatly dressed and scrupulously clean. I remember the way she taught us to respect our elders and to use our manners. I remember the desire she had to spend special time with each one of us and to understand our heartaches and problems. I remember her laughing as she played with us, and crying when we didn't get along with each other. How good at mothering my mother was.

My mother was a good neighbor. I remember many times my mother providing a listening ear to a hurting one that lived near by. I remember her opening our home to the children that were left at home by their working mothers to entertain themselves alone. I remember her making us clean up after ourselves so that we wouldn't be a bother to those that lived near us. What a good neighbor my mother was.

My mother was a good friend. My mother was there for people. She was there for the lonely servicemen and women that were stationed far from their loved ones at home. She was there for her extended family members when they were going through hard times. She was there for our friends when they needed a shoulder to cry upon. I remember her being very quick to open her heart and her home to anyone that needed a friend. My mother was a good friend.

My mother was a good example. I remember my mother speaking kindly about everyone. I don't ever remember her gossiping about anyone or anything. She didn't talk on the telephone very much, and she didn't spend her free time in idle wastefulness. I also remember how far my mother could stretch a dollar! It was amazing to me how much she could buy and how nicely we could eat on the limited amount of money that she had to spend. I never remember my mother complaining about anything. I remember her understanding us for who we were, and forgiving us when we did things that disappointed her. I know there much have been many times when she was tired, overwhelmed, and discouraged . . . but I never remember my mother being anything but a good example.

I'm thankful for the years God gave me to enjoy my mother. I'm thankful for the many times that we spent together, talked on the telephone to each other, and sent packages back and forth. I'm glad that she was the kind of woman that enjoyed her family and had a sense of humor. And I'm glad that she left so many good memories for me to remember her by.

I'm not quite sure why the Lord encouraged me to share my mother's story with you. To you, she would have been just an ordinary woman ~ the lady next door, or the mother of a friend. She wasn't a missionary, a Pastor's wife, or the best soul winner in the church. As a matter of fact, at the time of her death, she rarely, if ever, even attended church. She never authored a book, spoke in a convention, or traveled the country on behalf of any great cause. She was just a faithful woman who loved doing the things that God would have been pleased for her to do.

She loved her husband. She cared for her children. She kept a neat and tidy house. She helped her neighbors. She was friendly. She was a good example. She was a good mother.

She was my mother. And although she is not with me any more, her memory still lives through the tales that I am able to tell about her.

"The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot."
Proverbs 10:7

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