Mama, The Strength God Grew in You

A son’s powerful tribute to faith, sacrifice, resilience, and unconditional motherhood.

Sometimes as your son I could be stubborn and ignore the sensible things you would say.
My bullheadedness and lack of true focus upset you and often led me astray.
I wasn’t always the best son and would buck with anger and fight when I should yield.
However you never stopped praying, you were my anchor, my guide, and often my shield.

You had six children in a home that was broken as we all navigated pain we tried to hide.
Even when life tried to tear us apart you kept us grounded and faithful so we could survive.
You will never know how much I appreciate the way you endured every hurt and every tear.
You may never understand how much I loved knowing my mother always kept us near.

We never went hungry even when money was scarce and the refrigerator was almost bare.
You kept finding ways to provide for us even when some of us weren’t even fully aware.
I remember hearing you pray late at night in the living room when you thought no one was there.
I learned to cry out to God for the protection of my family when burdens seemed too heavy to bear.

You always encouraged my learning even when teachers misunderstood the mindset I had.
You kept feeding and encouraging my growth and ignored those who said I was stupid or bad.
Mama, you never stopped believing in me even when the path was clouded and hard for me to see.
I spent over twenty years all over the world serving in the military, but it was your prayers that kept me.
I spent long nights on watch, I trained and prepared others as a mentor for years while underway.
All of the knowledge, discipline, and resilience were built from lessons you modeled every day.
See people may see the man I have become, the teacher and historian, but those are only part of the display.
However, I know I would not have come this far in life without my Momma showing me the way.

How do you not appreciate that type of love?
How do you not grow under the nourishment it gave?
How do you not admire the woman who stood through every storm?
How do you not learn the strength to stand and be brave?

Now that I am older and have my own kids, I can see the sacrifices you quietly made.
I understand the faith it takes to hold a family together while carrying fears that aren’t displayed.
As a young stubborn son I saw my mama, but now as a father I see the fighter you had to become.
I know what it means to protect my wife and children and fight daily battles without coming undone.
I still call you when life becomes too unbearable and heavy, I call when I feel tired, sick, and withdrawn.
Your voice is that stability that saves me, reminding me to stay prayerful no matter what trouble may come.

On this Mother’s Day Mom I honor you, but not just for anything that any mother can say or do.
No, I honor the sacrifice, the struggles, the private pain, and strength that God grew in you.
Know your son sees how you carried pain without surrender and still gave your children hope in the storm.
You taught us that faith and strength are not always loud, they are disciplined, controlled, and strong.
I know that if my life has meant something to others, if I have helped people not falter or fall apart,
It is because of you, my praying strong mother, who planted faith, resilience, and knowledge in my heart.

In closing Mama, know that no matter how old I become and no matter the issues I have to fight through,
My greatest blessing in life is that God allowed you to be my Mom and me to always belong to you.

Love you,

Your Son Eddie