My Mom

Day #2: My Mom, Sue Chesney. Everyone thinks that their mother is the best mom to ever live, as well they should, however, my mom truly is. Just as in the post about my dad yesterday, there is absolutely no way I could say everything I admire about my mom so I'll try to hit the highlights. 

As far back as my mind will allow me to go, the number one thing that stands out to me concerning my mom is her great compassion for other people. I am thankful the Lord imputed into me a fraction of her compassion, as it is what drives me in my duties as a pastor. Some folks will do things for others out of obligation or to get recognition but when it comes to mom, it just naturally flows from her caring heart without one shred of self-glorification. If all she had was a bread crumb to her name and she discovered you were hungry she would give it to you and never even mention it to anyone else.

If you know my mom at all then you know she never stops going. She is constantly on the move doing things. She is a social butterfly (which is one thing that I did NOT inherit from her) and she loves to be around people and entertaining guests. Thanksgiving has always been her favorite holiday and her busiest time of the year. She goes about cooking and preparing dishes and trying to feed the world. The Holidays are always interesting at our house because you never know who mom has invited to share our table with. She can't stand the thought of anyone being alone during the holidays and if she has to make arrangements to pick you up, it doesn't matter if you are confined to a wheel chair and connected to an IV she will figure out a way to make it happen.

If mom sets her mind at doing something she is going to do it and there's not a single person on this earth that is going to stop her. In fact, the only time I have seen her have to change her plans is when she was admitted to the hospital. Even then she was planning her next move. One of the hardest things she has ever done is to give up being the social coordinator at Church. Due to some health issues she just wasn't able to keep doing it to her satisfaction. Which is another thing that I got from mom and that is being a perfectionists. She knows how she wants things done and she's not going to compromise in the least. She would rather not do something as to half way do it and she becomes very irritated if it doesn't meet her expectations, which is a feeling that I know all too well. I have visions of the future when the Lord calls us home and we are about to partake of the wedding supper that my mother will be adjusting and rearranging the table. I don't think the Lord will mind because He made her that way.

I also inherited my great love for music from my mom. If you had grown up with me and spent your summers playing in our backyard you would have enjoyed listening to my mother through the kitchen window singing along with the songs playing on gospel radio. Our evenings were often filled with the sounds of her singing along with dad playing the guitar. We didn't have computers and smart phones to keep us occupied back then, all we had was the melodies that God put in our hearts. I love to hear my mother sing because she sings from the heart. Her love for the Lord really shines through singing and He has really blessed her with musical talent.

Besides her love for the Lord Jesus, the most important thing in life to my mother is her family. I know the hardest thing that has ever happened to her (and all of us) was losing my sister Pam to leukemia. No parent should ever have to suffer through the loss of a child. I know mom would have traded places with her if she could for I have never seen such heartbreak in someone's face as I saw in my mother's when Pam passed away. But, like the song says, "If it wasn't for the Lord, tell me what would I do?" and mom keeps going on. Mom could give up everything she loves in this world; shopping, eating out, reading, socializing, etc.. but the thing that she lives for is her family and that's what makes her the greatest mother on earth.