A lady to love and appreciate

I have known her for 17 years now. And as the variegated seasons have gone slowly or rapidly by, I've come to love and appreciate her as a much-welcomed presence in our family. The lady in question is none other than my very own mother-in-law.



Her qualities are many, albeit she would be the last to boast about them. But to the observant eye she comes across as an unassuming woman of 75 who despite the frailties and afflictions that accompany advancing age, is still brimming with affection and care for those that she loves. And her motherly heart easily accomodates four children, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren - of whom her pride and joy know no bounds.


Her eyes always possess that particular tint of welcome, and she seems generally infatuated with the idea of spending as much time with us as we can possibly set aside. And consequently, whenever we do cross each other's paths, the scene is set for enjoyable chats around the coffee table, more often than not to the tune of general mirth. Never the self-centered or narrow-minded senior citizen, she takes an active interest in the lives and times of those much younger than her, resisting the temptation to overly censure or strongly reprove their choices or preferences whenever she disagrees.


She's not above sinning, and she has shouldered burdens she should never have had to, but widowhood or prolonged periods of back and leg pains have not kept her from bouncing back from shorter spells of reclusiveness brought on by illness or the need to rest or recover.


I wholeheartedly heap praise on this stalwart woman. And I sincerely crave her hospitality and company for as long as the good Lord is willing to share her with us.