THANKS MOM <3

Mom, I’m not writing this because I want to. I’m writing it because you would want me to. Everything in me wants to never write anything ever again, but you always read everything I ever wrote. You always pushed me and reminded me to not shut myself off from the world even when I was hurt and the thing I wanted most was to run and hide. Thank you for knowing me so well and loving me still. This is for you.

Dear Mom,

Thank you. Thank you for encouraging me endlessly. We always joked how you were my forever hypeman but honestly, it’s true. You were always listening to the things I was excited about and encouraging me to chase after them wholeheartedly. You always pushed me to express myself creatively even when I felt like everything that I created sucked. You always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to. Actually, you probably told me this too often because the amount of belief I have in myself now could possible be considered a character flaw. But your belief in me took a shy and scared little girl and helped her dream big and try new things. Thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to be kind to people, to love with my whole heart even if it hurts, and to never lose my joy. I remember feeling very resentful and angry at God for creating me with such a sensitive heart but you always reminded me how much you loved my heart. You loved the way I saw people. When I was a teenager who wanted to be cool you reminded me that kindness was one of the greatest gifts that God had given me and that under no circumstances was I to look at that gift negatively. Thank you for loving me through heartbreak and big hurts and so many things that I wanted to harden my heart because of. Your love has forever shaped my heart.

Thank you for all of the time that you spent making sure that I love to learn. Homeschooling is no easy undertaking but you patiently sat with me day after day in our school room making sure that I learned something new every day. Thank you for sitting with me through my “math tears” and for pushing me in English when I felt paralyzed by perfection and needing to get 100% on everything. You are one of the most intelligent people that I know and you will forever be the person I would pick to go on “Celebrity Name Game” with. Thank you for valuing my education, but more than that, for valuing the person I became. I could never express to you how thankful I am for hours spent in that school room.

Thank you for setting such an incredible example for me in what it means to love Jesus and his Word. Thank you for continually pointing me back to Jesus and His light. As much as I sometimes rolled my eyes, thank you for reminding me to “take every thought captive to Christ Jesus”. You took an active role in my discipleship and I will forever treasure our worship times, Bible readings, sermon listening, and conversations about the Lord.

Thank you for the lasting impact you have had not only on my life, but on the lives of so many others through Bible Quizzing. Who would have thought when we joined the Bible Quizzing program at Lamont Alliance that we would have been involved for so many years. I remember all those practices when it was just us in a room with you asking questions and me jumping. I remember endless hours of quoting to you in random verse order before quiz meets. I remember all of the CR and CVR question boards you made for me so that I would know exactly what to answer if I jumped on According to Acts chapter 4. There is nobody I would rather coach with, and I will hold so many International memories close. (Do you think they’ll let us coach Bible Quizzing in Heaven together?)

Thank you for being a safe space for me. Thank you for always reminding me that I am enough and that I can always be myself! You laughed at my jokes, listened to my stories, believed in my dreams, and showed me the love of Jesus each and every day. I will forever be thankful for you and the profound impact that you had on my life and my heart! You were my best friend and I’ll miss you a lot. I’ll love you forever mom and I can’t wait to see you again when we can both praise Jesus in His presence together!