Our Mama on Mother’s Day…..She is a Part of All of Us
Mama….she lives in each of us
For the past 57 years, I have been blessed to have Shirle Sue Perry Millstead for my Mother. I say blessed because I cannot remember a single time during those 57 years that I did not know of her Godliness and purity of heart toward me, my siblings, our father, and you, too, if she knew you.
My brother Jay quotes frequently “to whom much is given, much is expected” and I think he has this as a favorite because he understands that each of my siblings has been given much in the gift of our Mama.
If you look closely at each of her children, you will see her in us….
Chuck is our stalwart oldest. He made Mama a Mama and shared with her all the firsts which come from having that first little bundle. He, more than any of us, has spent the most time being our Mama’s son, and you can see already his rising in the family and ensuring we honor her vision for us. Chuck often goes about quietly doing/achieving/being and magically turns up with amazing awards, accolations, and kind comments from others about his great work ethic similar to our Mother’s. He is his Mama’s son.
Jim a/k/a James is Mama’s son whom she named after her beloved Daddy and oldest brother. Jim is our wise scholar and sibling-friend. He and our mother have a special bond regarding physical health and I genuinely believe one of the reasons our mother is in such good shape is because of her shared love of walking and weight watchers which she shares with our brother, Jim. The Mama I see in my brother is desire to stay very close to God not only by reading His Word daily, but by applying it to his life. Note writing to Jim is what handmade wash cloths are to our Mother. I suspect if you’ve known him long, you have been blessed by a Jim note. He emulates our Mother in this loving gift-giving. He is his Mama’s son.
Jay is our “lively and quick/kind and gentle” brother. Jay was named by our Daddy, but I think that Daddy named him this because of these traits he saw in our mother. If you don’t know this, our Mama is a “mud dobbing, horse riding, card shark playing daredevil”. Mama has hit a hole in one, given many wonderful speeches, and has shaken her booty in ways we cannot share here. That same love of travel, adventure, and fun is what I see in Jay that I know comes from our mother. Jay uses words to share his excitement just like our Mama and when he is excited, he makes the whole world come alive, just like our Mama makes her children’s lives alive by her sharing with us. He is his Mama’s son.
Jill is the reason our parents have lived to their eighties, I am convinced. While I know the truth is that “with all of these brothers, can’t you please send me a sister” was my constant 12-year old prayer to God, I really think he sent Jill to us to be the light of fun and joy which our parents have as they enter into this season of life. Mama and Jill have many things in common: they love people, they love parties, they love themed-anything, and they especially love monogrammed everything. Jill can whip up a party/BUNCO/celebration which lights up the heart of our mother like no other person can. Our parents are in good hands being the neighbors of our sister. We know without any doubt that if our parents need anything, Jill and her family will take care of it and that it will be done to perfection because that is her gift. She is her mother’s daughter.
Erwin, Bruce, and Tashula are God’s gift to our family by filling our Mother’s heart. Each of them has loved our mother in exactly the way she has needed to make her life full and complete and I know it is no accident that they became our brothers and sister so that our Mother could spread her ever-flowing love to them. They are our mother’s sons and daughter.
Daddy. What to you say about a Daddy who has loved our mother in the presence of his children for over 61 years? There is no greater love a Daddy can give his children than to love their mother. Daddy, you have done that, and it has made all the difference to us, your children. You are our mothers’ precious husband.
Finally, to my Mama….you and I know the ways in which I am like you. We know this because we have talked about all of it these past 57 years. Your love for me is second only to God’s and for that, there are no words except “I love you as only your oldest daughter can”. Thank you, thank you from all that is in me for loving me, for standing behind me, beside me, and in front of me. What a blessing, privilege, and honor to be called Shirle Millstead’s daughter.
ILYAOYODC,
Mama
