by Mary

We never called her”Mother”
As other children might.
I don’t remember saying “Mommy”
When we would say good-night.

“Mama” would have sounded nice
If we had decided to choose,
But “Mom” just seemed to be the name
That we all learned to use.

That name brought joy most of the time
If we had been doing right.
But if perchance we had done wrong,
That name brought quite a fright!

Punishment came in divers ways.
Her ingenuity was put to the test.
And, the “punishee” always knew
Another way would have been best.

I always thought a lecture
Had to be much better.
Chastisement with rod was worse
Than a “beating” with the letter!

But another kid always said,
That really is not true…
I wish that Mom would punish me
The way that she does you!

It’s funny (tho’ we didn’t laugh)
How God made Mom to see
Just what would be the very best
To bring us to our knee.

It must have seemed a lot of time
Was spent on our correcting,
But our Mom knew and saw ahead
It was needed for our perfecting.

She has a part in all we do
Because the things she taught
Has brought us where we are today
We must have learned a lot!

We all turned out, we’re not too bad,
At least it seems to us.
And we have each one come this far
With very little fuss.

So, to my Mom I give my thanks,
I love her more each day.
I thank the Lord for making her
So special in her own way!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, 1979
Love you always, Mary