It May Have Been…

It may have been the nine months our family lived with my mother and father in law when our house was being built.

It may have been the thirty one years, so far, that I have attended countless Sunday lunches at her house.

It may have been that at eighty years old she would get on a raft being pulled by a boat just to enjoy her grandchildren.

It may have been the decades of her having a back yard garden which many family members and friends have benefitted.

It may have been that she put her career on hold in order to raise three sons and one daughter who raised multiple grandchildren who are raising multiple great grandchildren.

It may have been that though she did not have a lot of money she considered herself rich in family.

It may have been making Friday nights very special with Banana Split Fridays.

It may have been the Christmas Eve meals year after year.

It may have been any given Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas where she would ask those gathered to share their faith.

It may have been the time that the pressure cooker blew up and burnt much of her chest and arms.

It may have been the years of singing around the piano.

It may have been how many mouths she has fed, how many people she has entertained, how many lives she has blessed and how many laughs she has been responsible for.

Or…

It may have been that a few moments ago when I called my mother in law and asked her to give me the Bible verse that has meant the most to her, she did not to even have to think it about it before she said, “Proverbs 3:5 – ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.'”

My own mother is gone but I had another one already prepared and waiting in the wings.

JHH