making a difference

My mother made a difference. She was a stay- at- home Mum who loved and looked after her husband and their three children. I well remember her affinity with old ladies. When I was six and my sister five we played in the frail care’s garden while she brought flowers and cakes to share with old Mrs Evans. When her mother-in-law was dying, she asked for Dolly, her dear daughter-in-law. She did not want her sons or daughter, recently returned from the mission field. 


She taught us girls to be kind. I remember how she suggested that instead of a party for us, my sister and I should give a party for the children at the local orphanage. We set long tables with crackers, chips, cold drinks, delicious cakes and chocolates. Afterwards, there was ice cream and fun and games in the garden. She bought clothes for a poor family who ran a mission and belonged to our church. When my aunt returned from the mission field in China, she cared for her and her son.  When John and I were pastoring a poor church which we had founded, she bought clothes for our children and my Dad supported the church.  


When my Mum was widowed and living in a retirement complex, she invited fellow residents to play bridge with her. Over tea and cakes, she told them about the Lord’s second coming. They were fascinated, and the bridge afternoons became a meeting of 25 old ladies. She asked me to record hymns, which I did, and sent her the cassettes, because we were far away, and John was already teaching theology at a university. The hymn they loved the best was What a friend we have in Jesus. My Mum became a preacher. She certainly made a difference!