Ruby Louise Dedmon

Nov. 4, 1913-May 28, 1995

Lessons I Learned From My Mother

I am reminded of my faith and my mother from the scripture in 2 Timothy 1:5 when Paul wrote to Timothy, "Your honest faith--and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you!"  (The Message)

My spiritual journey has been greatly influenced  from the teachings of my mother and how she demonstrated her faith with her actions.   My parents were great co-parents so I learned faith values from both of them.  They were great partners in faith development for me and my five sisters and we learned how to live a life of faith from them.

The following are things I treasure from my mother and seek to practice in my life every day.

·        Never take yourself to serious.  My mother had a great sense of humor.  She loved playing jokes on people and giving gag gifts to others.  Each year at Christmas she would always have a "gift" for someone who had done something crazy that year.  She loved giving gag gifts to her son-in-laws too. She could always find humor in just about every situation.  I remember one time at dinner she and I started laughing.  We laughed for the longest and daddy just sat there and continued eating. After about 10 minutes he finally said, "What are you laughing about?"  We had been laughing so long we could not remember what we were laughing about.  He just shook his head and continued eating.  She knew some of the funniest songs and poems that she taught us and could always tell a good joke.  I think Prov. 17:22 would be a good description of her humor, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine"  Prov. 17:22

·        Strong person of faith.  She believed that God would provide all of our needs. She was a gifted preschool teacher and would spend hours preparing to teach those preschoolers every Sunday.  She could tell Bible stories that would make the Bible seem so real and applicable to even a four year old child.  She taught preschoolers that God made them very special and they were very special to her.   I remember she would always call and check on her preschoolers if they were not at church.  She really cared for the child and his family.  When I was a teenager I would work with her in Sunday School and VBS. I believe it was through her example of faith that in college I begin to understand God's call in my life to be a Children's Minister.   During my seminary days and in my ministry in churches, I knew she was my most active prayer supporter.

·        Person of compassion.  She had a great love for people and her flower garden was a great passion for her.  Her flowers were a way she would share her compassion with others.  She made many bouquets for people to brighten up their day.  She also used this gift to provide beautiful flowers for the Sanctuary each Sunday.  I recall one time my dad suggested they go visit a couple who had not been feeling well.  Mother said, "give me a few minutes to fix some flowers to take."  My dad asked, "can we not go without taking something"? Her reply was a simple, "No".  Her compassion was never ending to our family and to others.

·         Wonderful encourager.  In first grade I signed myself up for piano lessons at school. We did not have a piano or the money, but she made sure that I took piano lessons. She would sit with me at the piano "singing along" as I would peck out the songs encouraging me with every note.  She was an encourager in whatever her daughters participated in their lives.  Her positive attitude was such a great encouragement even when we did not think we could succeed, she believed we could.

·        Teacher of faith in the final days of life. She was bed ridden with congestive heart failure for the last 8 months of her life with Hospice Care. She rarely complained except she wished she could get up and do something for someone else.  Even during these days she found something to be thankful for every day. In the final hours before her death she experienced a lot of pain.  I asked her what I could do for her. She asked me to sing Amazing Grace. It was 4:00 a.m. but I begin to sing.  I thought she was asleep and I quit singing. She opened her eyes and said, "Keep singing". Those were her final words to me which I cherish to this day.  I try to "sing" everyday of God's grace and goodness to me.