It’s really not her fault. I honestly think my mom did everything the could to teach me the finer points of laundry etiquette, and the complex scientific realities of the color coding system. Sadly, her efforts were not enough to prevent my demise and spare my wife 19 years of shrinking her favorite items in the closet, or mixing colors that God never intended to share a washing machine adventure together.
My mom did what she could to send me off to adulthood prepared for the laundry challenges that would come at me like the waves of water swirling around in those cool front-loader machines with the big glass front. My mom did what she could to teach, but in the end I have still failed.
What didn’t fail were incredible lessons on listening (taught over and over with hours of sitting at our dining room table as she listened to what was going on in my little world). She taught me over and over (by example) what it looks like to selflessly serve your family through all the mundane and necessary tasks of life. She taught me that wise money management will make you far richer than your paycheck will ever show. Most of all, my mom taught me that a life surrendered to loving God and loving others will create a legacy for generations to benefit from.
Proverbs 1:8,9 remind us “Listen, my son to your father’s instruction and do no forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck”.
If you have been given the gift of a mom (or mother figure) who’s teaching shines like the crown jewels, join me this week in taking some time to say thank you! Mom’s keep listening, keep modeling, keep teaching… the laundry might still get ruined but your kid’s hearts will be the better for it!