In 2011, I wrote a tribute to my mom and read it to her (along with a tribute to my dad) on Thanksgiving Day. I wanted to share it with you today for Mother's day:
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| Natalie and Mama after my mom taught Natalie to make lemon meringue pie - yum! |
A Tribute to Jane Nelson given by her daughter, Nancy Nelson Wayland, on Thanksgiving Day 2011
I remember mornings as a young girl how you would be in the kitchen packing our lunches and fixing our breakfast so that we could go to school well prepared. I was pretty picky with my sandwiches, and you always made a special one just for me: leaving out the peanut butter on the PB & J sandwich or not putting Miracle Whip on the sandwich with meat. Betsy, Ginny and I would go off to school secure and happy, with all of our folders and books organized, not realizing how much work and effort you put into making sure we had all that we needed.
You have always been there for me, cheering me on. When I wanted to run cross country and track in high school, you encouraged me and came to all my home meets and even some of my away meets. You would sit in the parking lot next to that little field house by the track at Varina High School and read a book, patiently waiting for me as I gathered my things after each practice. (I never even thought about the fact that you might have other things to do at 5:30 PM, like cook dinner for an entire family!) When I wanted to swim on the summer swim team, you didn’t just drop me off, you volunteered as a timer at so many swim meets. You were always involved in my life: taking me places, talking to me, cheering me up… I even remember you making the long trip to VA Tech one summer day so I could do my vocal try-out for the group “The New Virginians.”
As I got older, you helped me be prepared for life. I still have the list of meals for lunch and supper and the recipes you gave me for my senior year of college. You got me set up with dishes and other household items I would need for my first apartment in college and then later when I moved out on my own. You also helped me to be prepared for life by teaching me to be organized and punctual. I remember when I was teaching at Chickahominy, another older teacher commented about how organized I was. I laughed in disbelief --- I didn’t feel very organized compared to you or Betsy! Then I realized that you had given that gift of organization to me, and other people could see it, even when I didn’t feel super organized myself.
Perhaps the greatest area in which I have been blessed with you as my mom is in the spiritual heritage you have given me. It wasn’t until I got involved with Cru in college that I began to realize how much I had learned about God from you. I had taken it for granted, believing that kids in all families knew all the Old Testament stories and who Jesus was and that He died on the cross for them. I didn’t realize how much you had been praying for me and also for Sean --- even before you and I had ever met him! I remember one time studying the book of Luke in a Bible study with you, Betsy, and Ginny when we were growing up. I also remember praying at breakfast as a family, putting on the armor of God. All of those “little” things you did that were really so important, I just took for granted.
Mama, you have a tender heart, and I have never, ever doubted how much you love me or others. Thank you, Mama, for being such a wonderful mom. When I was trying to think of what to give you for Mother’s Day this past May, I couldn’t think of anything that you couldn’t buy for yourself. Then God impressed upon me that I could tell you what I think all the time… and that’s how thankful I am for the mom that you are and the mom that you have been for me since October 29, 1970. It took me from May until now to write down my thoughts (how do I summarize in just 1 little page what you mean to me?!?!) So this Thanksgiving of 2011, I thank my God for giving you to me as my mom.
Proverbs 31:10 says, “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain” and verse 28 says, “Her children rise up and bless her…” So I am rising up today to bless you because of the blessing you have been to me.
I love you, Mama. Thank you for loving me and for being my mom!
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| my mom with Natalie, Samuel, and their cousin in December 2004 |
