Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Drum Roll, Please

Happy Birthday to my sweet mother-in-law!
She is beautiful inside and out.
She is ninety-four years old today.

My DIL asked, "Can we get her a parade?"
What a great idea! Wouldn't that be fun!
There would be marching bands, floats,
horses, and large balloons!
I'd be standing and cheering!
Let me tell you about this special woman.


My Mom [by marriage] is Generous
  • Generous in smiles and laughter
  • Generous in forgiveness and kind words

  • Generous in time—always ready to listen and encourage

  • Generous in acceptance and love and affection not only for her children but also for her children-in-law and grandchildren and great grandchildren and friends and pastors and teachers.

  • Generous in praise—for all of those listed above and for any people doing a nice job at church or in the grocery store or those cleaning the apartments.


My Mom is Careful.

  • Careful in her words, in relationships.
  • Careful and attentive to details when reading and listening.

  • Careful and observant and delighted in all things around her—a rock, a bird, a leaf, the color of the sky . . .

  • Careful when preparing food—cutting vegetables in the small pieces.

  • Careful in cleaning—getting every small smidgeon of dirt.

  • Careful and wise when it comes to truth.

  • Careful when bandaging either a literal or a figurative wound.

My Mom is gentle, faithful, effectual and faithful in prayer, forgiving, hopeful, patient, insightful, intelligent, kind and loving. There are just not enough words to describe this woman that I love.

A mother [-in-law] of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. . . She brings good, not harm, all the days of her life. . . She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Her children [including daughters-in-law] arise and call her blessed. . . ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’”

—from Proverbs 31


13 comments:

Diana said...

Oh Brenda,
How blessed you are to have such a sweet Mother-in-law! I admire her just from reading your post! And she looks like a sweet woman. I think that I would like to be just like her when I grow up.
Love Di

Bernie said...

I love her already, another beautiful blessing in your life. Happy Birthday beautiful lady, and may God give you many more to celebrate with your family and friends who love you.....:-) Hugs

Rachel said...

Hi Aunt Brenda,

What a wonderful tribute to Grandma Rowell! My mom and Renee said they had a wonderful time celebrating Grandma's birthday and catching up with you last week.

Wanda..... said...

Your mother-in-law is a lovely 94 Brenda...and she really does look very sweet and kind! Maybe that's the secret to a long life!

Mummy McTavish said...

What a beautiful post for your mum-in-law!

Donna's Book Nook said...

A great tribute to MIL! She is a sweetheart. I'm like Di--I wish I could be like her RIGHT NOW and when I 'grow up'. You are blessed to have her.

Tiffany said...

This is what every MIL should be like!! I certainly want to be that for my future DIL's. What a truly lovely tribute and a marvelous definition of MIL's.

Jacquelyn Stager said...

Brenda, what a lovely tribute. Sounds like she has lived a life full of the real kind of beauty. How honored I would be if I would ever deserve those kinds of comments from my daughters-in-love. I think I need to read them a few more times :)
Birthday Blessings to a lovely lady!

Jackie said...

Brenda...what a BEAUTIFUL post about your Mother-In-Law.
You know...I think the blessings are double ones: you to have her as a wonderful MIL...and her to have you as a loving daughter-in-law.
Love,
Jackie

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Your tribute to your MIL brought tears to my eyes...what a lovely lady!!! I join you in wishing her a very, Happy Birthday!!!! She is an inspiration to us all!!!! ~Janine XO

Dee said...

I have a nice mother-n-law also. It is sad that she has alzheimer's.Your tribute to your mother-n-law shows a whole lot of love...makes me want to go give my mother-n-law a hug..even if she does not remember me..i remember her. :)

Rebecca said...

Beautiful, beautiful. I especially like the examples of "careful". While I don't know V. up close and personal as you do, your portrayal is consistent with what I observed her to be as a woman MY age and younger. I'd better HURRY to catch up with her gracious, godly character!

Rebecca said...

Brenda, we know P & D, but who is across the table? The grey haired man & woman beside him? I assume the younger woman is a grand-daughter?