Challenge from Mom at Breakfast

Today was my time with Mom over her usual cheese omelet and white toast. She cuts up her omelet into little squares and then takes a crisp piece of potato to put on top and then pops it in her mouth. She follows it up with a bite of toast. Each bite is done in the same way. It is what happens between these bites that can be funny and sometimes like today challenging.

I have stated before on this blog that my mom has frontal lobe disorder. She is no longer in reality and her stories are just that, stories. They are not true and actually no longer even have a hint of truth in them as far as having really taken place. But today I am able to gather a very serious challenge from her story.

One of her favorite things to say is "A lady came out on her porch when I was out walking. She yelled at me and asked me if I was Denise Hardy's mother and after I said yes...she said that Denise is the most wonderful woman I have ever known." This is said to me multiple times during the course of the omelet each week but this week there was a twist. My mother added after that, "The lady told me that she was going to commit suicide but she heard you speak and she changed her mind. She knew she had something to live for." Whoa! Where did that come from?

Although my mother never spoke to a woman who said those things, it gave me pause to think. Every word that comes out of my mouth counts. I do not know what is going on in anyone's life. The teaching that I do I need to take very seriously. It is falling on hurting ears. So I thought of this verse, "...we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1b This passage goes on to talk about the tongue. The bottom line is that spiritual maturity requires a tamed tongue. I have to remember that. God expects me to keep my tongue under control. I can't do it by myself. I need His help. He gives that to me in many ways. Today He used my mom to remind me of the seriousness of speaking words that benefit others and bring glory to God.

Thank you God for my mom who continues to teach me even if she doesn't really know it. You are using her in my life to mature me into who you want me to be.