Mother’s Day
Well, it is Mother’s Day, and my mom is not here anymore, but I see a lot of things that remind me of my mom. So, I brought a sack full of things. Every time I see these things, I think of my mommy. I want to show you.
So, one thing that reminds me of my mom is oatmeal. Every time I see a box of oatmeal, I think of my mom because she made me eat healthy foods in the morning. I would rather have a chocolate doughnut, but she wouldn’t let me have chocolate doughnuts for breakfast. She made me eat oatmeal.
And, here’s a book. Books remind me of my mom. When I got home from school, I wanted to go out and play, but she wouldn’t let me go out and play because she made me get my books and do my homework first. And, you know what that taught me? That taught me when you’ve got something that you don’t really want to do, go on and do it and get it over with. That’s what she would tell me, she would say, “When you do your homework, then you can go outside.” You do the things first that you really don’t want to do, get them over with, and then go play.
This is a clock. Clocks remind me of my mom because she wanted to know where I was every minute of the day. I had to let her know what time I was leaving, when I would be back. She wanted to know where I was. So, today, I am never late for anything because I know time is important. All the years that I taught school, for 31 and a half years, I was never late for school, and I attribute that to my mom because she made me tell her where I was all the time.
You know, when I see a fish that reminds me of my mom because she made me go fishing with she and my dad. Now fishing can be the most boring sport in the world, because you have to sit and wait, and wait, and wait and finally, you might get a fish. And,I would be so antsy, and I would be saying, “Let’s go home! I’m hungry! I’m ready to go!” She would say, “No, just sit and wait. Good things come to those who wait.” And, you know, my mom taught me that you don’t get things right when you want them. Sometimes, you have to wait.
The last thing I brought is a scrub brush. Every time I look at a scrub brush, I think of my mom because she made me wash dishes. We didn’t have dishwashers back then. We did have a dishwasher, and her name was Cindy. She made me wash dishes. My mom made me work around the house. And, you know what? Today, I like to have a clean house. I think all the things, back then, that were annoying, that I really didn’t want to do, that I got mad at her about, today, they’ve made me the person that I am. Now, don’t you all say, that’s too bad. (Laughter) But, they’ve made me like a clean house. They made me know how to wait for things. My mom made me be punctual, and my mom helped me on the road to healthy living. And, the best thing of all, my mom made me know what hard work is all about, and do the stuff that you don’t want to do first. Do that stuff first.
Well, while Cole and Sarah are giving out a little gift to all the moms here, Elizabeth is going to sing “Jesus Loves Me.” So, would y’all go give one of these to all the ladies that are 18 or older, okay? So, that would be, probably, almost all the ladies. Y’all go hand them out real quick okay? Go, go, go! Scoot, scoot, scoot!
(Singing) Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. (Applause)