This week as my daughters are memorizing Proverbs 31, I couldn’t help but think about how blessed I am to have the mother God gave me.  One year ago on Aug. 30, 2007, my mother went home to be with the Lord after battling cancer for two years.  We buried her on Sept. 8 after hearing testimony after testimony at the memorial service about Mom’s influence on many other people’s lives.  Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Verse 30 says, “…but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised”.  It is only right that I take the time to praise my mother for her godly example to me, her family, her friends, and her community. 

My mother, Sheryl Gonnerman, gave her life completely over to the Lord while still a teenager in high school.  Her mother had died quickly from cancer while Mom was still in high school.  Mom quickly learned that she had to rely completely on God for the strength she needed to continue on.  Giving God the glory and teaching others about God’s sacrifice of love was my mother’s passion from that time on.  She married my father and became a pastor’s wife.  Because she loved teaching children, she delved into teaching them God’s Word.  Many tears flowed from Mom as she prayed over those who were not living wholeheartedly for the Lord.  I still remember waking up at night and seeing Mom in the living room kneeling at the couch crying out to the Lord for her children and those in the community who were not living completely for the Lord.  Faithfully teaching Sunday School, children’s church, and the beginners department at the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp were only a few of the things she did.  Mom also loved to decorate with themes both in the home and at church to help get God’s Word out in a more practical way.  We knew that on Valentine’s Day we’d get a theme-based meal plus a story about God’s amazing love for each of us.  That happened on every holiday - even the ones that most people don’t even recognize as official holidays!  With four children of her own to raise, Mom worked hard at clothing us, feeding us home cooked meals, giving us gifts at the most unexpected times, reading stories to us, and talking to us about how our day went.  I, for one, loved having Mom call me each day when I got married - just to see how I was doing.  My fondest memories are those phone calls at all hours of the day.  Mom loved each of us children equally and worked hard at showing us that through our own unique love languages.  Because Mom and Dad lived on a small pastor’s salary, we were not blessed with fancy clothes and expensive vacations.  That was OK because Mom taught us that our riches are stored up in heaven.  She worked hard to make sure that we never felt slighted.  Her ultimate goal was to teach us to glorify God in all that we had and did. 

As Proverbs 31 talks about the hard work of a godly woman, I can relate that to Mom.  She would stay up into the wee hours of the night cooking, sewing, cleaning, and preparing Bible lessons for church.  Rest of us would be fast asleep while she kept working.  Her humbleness in serving others was also amazing.  She wasn’t afraid of doing the jobs no one else would do.  She’d say to me “If Jesus could do it, then I most certainly think I’m able to do it”. 

Was Mom perfect?  No.  She had her moments.  However, she wasn’t afraid to apologize and move forward.  She worked hard at displaying unconditional love to those who hurt her time and time again.  A statue of the prodigal son and Jesus sat in her office to remind her how God forgives and accepts all who turn to Him.  She wanted to please God by doing likewise.

As I look back at this past year without Mom, I think about how often I have missed Mom’s godly counsel, her example of servanthood, and her burning desire to see others saved.  However, I also look forward to the day when I can see her again.  It’s amazing to think that right now she’s in the presence of her Savior who she totally adored.  There is no possible way I could think of wanting her back here.  Before Mom died, she told me the same thing her mother told her before she died “Becky, you don’t need a mother - you just need God.  He’s all you need.”  You know what?  She was right.  God has given me and my family an amazing peace and joy as we lean on Him.  God receives all the glory for blessing us with such an amazing woman and mother.  May I in turn be a mother and wife who whole heartedly serves God and spreads His love to others around me as Mom did for so many years.

—Becky — God’s Eternal Masterpiece

Resources for women who desire to live wholeheartedly for God are available at www.godseternalmasterpiece.com.