A note to my mom and my wife.
This is Mother’s Day weekend, and like many I have found myself thinking about my mom, a lady for whom I have nothing but respect and admiration. My mom did the single parent thing long before the term became popular. She gave of herself, sacrificed and often did without to provide for three kids. We never had much growing up, but we never went without.
Quiet in spirit, with a strong faith and a devotion to her family and friends, my mom has modelled for me what it is to give and serve others and to do so over the long haul. I see in her a strength of character and grace that inspires me.
Happy Mother’s Day, mom, I love you!
I’ve also been thinking about my wife, who is sharing in a girl’s weekend with Lisa and Andrea and her niece, Carrie. Proverbs 31:10 says: If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Proverbs 31 gives to us a beautiful picture of the kind of wife and mother that God honours. It’s a text that I can speak about with a fair amount of confidence because I’m married to a Proverbs 31 wife.
I cannot express all that Janice means to me as my wife and the mother of our children; her commitment to me, her love and devotion to me—she has been my biggest cheerleader, standing beside me at all times.
In 1985 Janice did what I think was one of the most difficult things in her life, she literally uprooted herself from family, friends, our home in Chatham and moved to Toronto with me, so that I could finish Bible College. Every morning, Monday to Friday she got up early; I drove her to work in the downtown area and then at night took the subway and bus back home.
I remember the time she worked all day and at night she sewed, making knitting bags and selling them so we would have extra money for Christmas. She made those kinds of sacrifices for 3½ years so that I could put all my efforts into my studies and work at the church.
One of the proudest days of my life was my graduation. The reason I say that is because it meant so much to Janice—I can honestly say it meant more her than it did to me. Part of it may have been that she was saying to herself, ‘maybe now he'll get a job’, but she sacrificed and shared in the joy in a way I'll never forget.
She made a similar sacrifice ten years ago when we made a decision to come to the South Okanagan Valley.
I had not been married to Janice very long when I realized that the best thing I have ever done is to take her as my wife. It’s been 35 years now; just to walk with her and to have her beside me, to love her and look at that smile that sent me head-over-heels in love as a 19-year-old kid—it’s wonderful! After 35 years I’m more in love with her than I have ever been.
I do think that evening when I gave her an engagement ring and asked her to marry me; that was one of the best decisions I have ever made! If God should choose, there will be a day when Janice and I are in the rocking chair of life; I'll look at her, she'll look at me, and there's only one thing I’ll need to hear before I go to see the Lord—that I have been a good husband and dad; that I love my wife and kids and gave my best to them / for them.
Is there anything that compares to the time, the effort, the energy, that you put into the family? It's what lasts, it's what's closest to us and what matters most—loving God and loving the ones He has put in our lives!
Happy Mother’s Day, Janice, I love you!
This is Mother’s Day weekend, and like many I have found myself thinking about my mom, a lady for whom I have nothing but respect and admiration. My mom did the single parent thing long before the term became popular. She gave of herself, sacrificed and often did without to provide for three kids. We never had much growing up, but we never went without.
Quiet in spirit, with a strong faith and a devotion to her family and friends, my mom has modelled for me what it is to give and serve others and to do so over the long haul. I see in her a strength of character and grace that inspires me.
Happy Mother’s Day, mom, I love you!
I’ve also been thinking about my wife, who is sharing in a girl’s weekend with Lisa and Andrea and her niece, Carrie. Proverbs 31:10 says: If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Proverbs 31 gives to us a beautiful picture of the kind of wife and mother that God honours. It’s a text that I can speak about with a fair amount of confidence because I’m married to a Proverbs 31 wife.
I cannot express all that Janice means to me as my wife and the mother of our children; her commitment to me, her love and devotion to me—she has been my biggest cheerleader, standing beside me at all times.
In 1985 Janice did what I think was one of the most difficult things in her life, she literally uprooted herself from family, friends, our home in Chatham and moved to Toronto with me, so that I could finish Bible College. Every morning, Monday to Friday she got up early; I drove her to work in the downtown area and then at night took the subway and bus back home.
I remember the time she worked all day and at night she sewed, making knitting bags and selling them so we would have extra money for Christmas. She made those kinds of sacrifices for 3½ years so that I could put all my efforts into my studies and work at the church.
One of the proudest days of my life was my graduation. The reason I say that is because it meant so much to Janice—I can honestly say it meant more her than it did to me. Part of it may have been that she was saying to herself, ‘maybe now he'll get a job’, but she sacrificed and shared in the joy in a way I'll never forget.
She made a similar sacrifice ten years ago when we made a decision to come to the South Okanagan Valley.
I had not been married to Janice very long when I realized that the best thing I have ever done is to take her as my wife. It’s been 35 years now; just to walk with her and to have her beside me, to love her and look at that smile that sent me head-over-heels in love as a 19-year-old kid—it’s wonderful! After 35 years I’m more in love with her than I have ever been.
I do think that evening when I gave her an engagement ring and asked her to marry me; that was one of the best decisions I have ever made! If God should choose, there will be a day when Janice and I are in the rocking chair of life; I'll look at her, she'll look at me, and there's only one thing I’ll need to hear before I go to see the Lord—that I have been a good husband and dad; that I love my wife and kids and gave my best to them / for them.
Is there anything that compares to the time, the effort, the energy, that you put into the family? It's what lasts, it's what's closest to us and what matters most—loving God and loving the ones He has put in our lives!
Happy Mother’s Day, Janice, I love you!
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