Holiday Memory

Hi Mom,

Looking back at past holiday celebrations, I was reminded of a true story you shared about your youth. You told how God had protected, guided, and directed you through a deep, seemingly bottomless abyss, turning it into an easily ascendable valley that you scaled quite successfully!

Your mom had birthed nine babies at home, but there was a new hospital in town, and your father wanted her to have the best care possible. He sacrificed to give her the amazing gift of dedicated hospital care for this birth, but instead, it resulted in her losing her own God-given and most precious gift…her own treasured life.

Hearing these stories, and being so young ourselves, we didn’t understand or feel the pain of what that must have been like for you…losing your mom at age ten. Although your mother was gone, you continued doing your utmost by going to school, working for others, and giving the money to your father to help feed your nine siblings.

I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been for you, struggling to go to school, wanting to read and learn, yet having to work for your neighbor, Mrs. Galloway, cooking an early breakfast for her and her family before your little legs could run to the schoolhouse. I hope she hugged you, yet in my heart, I know you were “just the help.”

After school, you returned to Mrs. Galloway’s to wash breakfast dishes, cook dinner for all, bathe her children, and put them to bed. Then, and only then, could you go home and do your homework, take your bath, and finally go to bed…only to start all over the next day. And by then, you had only turned eleven years old, yet your faith in God was stalwart and growing stronger daily.

I knew your father, my grandfather, and I know he was a strong and good man who feared God. You were also a devoted Mennonite Christian, so you jumped in to help him earn a living for this large family of twelve. You learned lessons that life could never take away from you, for you learned to be positive, confident, never to quit, and most of all to love, honor, and trust God.

Elizabeth, you were positive when you were growing up, and people complimented you for being such a happy little girl! It was fun when you won First Prize in an artistic drawing contest, and you loved playing the violin you inherited. Always, you remained happy, even later, when you were Valedictorian of your class, and no one in your family came to see you graduate or to hear your speech.

You had studied diligently, earned the highest marks, and been recognized at school as one of the brightest students. These awards encouraged and motivated you to have dreams of providing nursing service to many others, even beyond this small community.

You knew you wanted to go to nursing school when you were eighteen. But Jacob, your father, told you, “Nice girls don’t become nurses.” Not to be deterred, you managed to sell your treasured violin, accept an overly large and heavy man’s coat from your uncle C.J., and cut it down to your size.

Although you were afraid to do so, leaving home in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to your father and siblings was the only way. You walked to the old train station carrying your bag, thinking you’d never arrive. Finally, cold, wet, and hungry, you sat down on the icy train-station bench to regain your strength, and then you slept.

When you awoke at dawn and saw the bright rays of the rising sun, you stood and gave thanks, amazed in the moment. As you looked across the open land and saw the wide range of mountains in the distance, and the unending view to Forever, your heart welled up inside of you; you smiled and shouted happily to the empty train station, “PRAISE GOD, FOR HE IS WORTHY.” With a resounding reverence, the sounds came back, ringing with echoes of holy praise: “PRAISE GOD, FOR HE IS WORTHY, INDEED!”

And at that moment in time, Elizabeth, you heard the train whistle as it screeched to a halt in front of you, and you knew THE TIME WAS NOW. You were on your way to an unknown, uncharted, intimidating, yet decidedly delightful and lifetime-fulfilling destiny. As you boarded the train to Tulsa, you had barely enough money to purchase the ticket, and you were hungry. Nevertheless, you didn’t care that you didn’t have extra money for food or snacks…you were ON YOUR WAY, and that was all that was important.

When you arrived at nurses’ school, you were glad you had made yourself nice new and hand-made underwear, and that the school furnished nurses’ uniforms. Those years in nurses’ training were mean years, lean years, and freeing years, as you gained knowledge you would use all of your life helping others. You were happy to pay the fee in time, work, dedication, and love, for this was your God-given dream and wonderfully fulfilling destiny.

Later, you realized you were so far away from family; however, you knew in your heart that you had made the right decision. Finally, your goals were realized, and you graduated with honors as an RN and began your chosen and celebrated choice of vocation! No one in your family celebrated your success, not even your father, but you had peace, because you knew you were in the center of God’s Will for your life.

Although you didn’t travel in a reindeer-drawn sled, the car that took you to the hospital for your first job was still perfect. Arriving at the nurse-filled facility, you ran happily towards your new friends, your new job, your exciting God-delivered destiny.

After Tulsa, you nursed in several other hospitals, lovingly ministered to the patients, and eventually became Supervisor of Surgical Operations. You loved your work and continued throughout your life to serve in your chosen field.

Later, when you had your own family, you became an Industrial Nurse, working at an Air Force Base. We always waited excitedly for you to return home, as you had great stories to tell. And at dinnertime, all worked together as a team, cooking. The amazing thing was that we never ever heard “I’m tired” from your lips. No matter what, you always encouraged us to sing, smile, work, and to be thankful for all of our blessings.

I’ve always been proud of your Christian witness, and I’ve always been glad to say my mother was an RN. You gave us a heritage many do not have…a God-fearing mother. I’ve made it through the trials in my life because you were a Christian and taught me about The Lord. You’ve never doubted God and always praised Him. I’m sure your reward in heaven is great, for you taught us to always help others, never to give up, not to complain, and to always remember that He has promised He would never leave or forsake us.

Surprisingly, when you finally retired from nursing, your father, Jacob, who had refused to help you go to nursing training, asked to come live with you so you could nurse him back to health. There were nine other siblings, but he chose you. We kids were married and long gone, but later, I gathered that Grandfather was a difficult patient. You could have refused, but you didn’t; you allowed him to move into your home and cared for him with kindness, love, and devotion, as you used the expert nursing skills that he had refused to allow you to pursue when you were eighteen.

Back then, you went to nurses’ training on a wing and a prayer, and you never looked back. Because you stayed the course, you were able, later, to give a life of loving care to everyone, including your father, who needed your help. And you were able to do it with inner happiness, peace in your appointed place, and joy overflowing, with God’s guidance and grace.

I’m sorry I couldn’t identify with the stories you told us as children or feel the pain they must have contained when you were growing up without a mother. I don’t know why tonight I understand, but I know now why you didn’t hug us…you never knew the healing power of a hug yourself. I wish I had been able to be a catalyst and show you, Mom, the healing power of a hug, but back then, it was an unknown blessing.

You were challenged by your own sharp-peaked, ominous, and dangerous mountains: the disapproving opinions of others, the daunting decision to defy your father, the concern about leaving the others at home. Nevertheless, you were highly inspired by the guidance of God, and with great love, you committed to leaving, learning, and then helping others to heal, so their lives could be restored. Your legacy was that you provided those opportunities to patients with courage, witnessing about The Lord, saying encouraging prayers, and providing excellent care that helped others to heal, with conscientious attention and much love.

It’s on holidays and ordinary days, as well, that we celebrate your exemplary life, Elizabeth: your true sacrifice, total dedication, and steadfast determination that led you to follow His Will. We’ll see you again one day and express our love and appreciation for your life with great celebration, robust joy, and heartfelt hugs! You lived a lifetime of service to others and left the best legacy to your family and future generations ever…memories of our holidays and regular days as family, as well as your unwavering Christian witness. We love you, Mom, and PRAISE THE LORD for your true, everlasting, illuminated legacy.

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“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.” New Revised Standard Version of The Holy Bible

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV of The Holy Bible