While conversing with a friend she mentioned she had attended the funeral of a fellow schoolmate. She was impressed with the comments made by the deceased's children. They stated that their mother always looked like a model. My friend hoped her children would say such nice things about her. This gave me some food for thought as to what my children would say about me. They would never be able to say their mom always looked like a model! Not unless, of course, they would like to enjoy an eternity of heat! Then I thought of my mother and what I said at her funeral.
"How well I remember the little room off of the kitchen in our home in Kearns. Janet and I had everything we needed to set up house- irons and ironing boards, dolls and doll clothes, doll beds complete with blankets and pillows, dishes, and even little sewing machines. We were in training for the profession of 'homemaker.' And we were very fortunate to be blessed with a mother who set such a marvelous example. We were well fed, well dressed and well cared for.
How well I remember the summer of 1960 when we moved to Rangely, Colorado. Our first home, so to speak, was the bunk house on the hill. I vividly remember having a couple of neighbor girls over to play. One of the girls and myself wanted to be 'blood sisters', but we did not want the other girl to be our blood sister. My mother spoke with me and attempted to teach me the principle of inclusion. You see, my mother was an extremely kind person and she tried to teach that principle to her children.
My mother was not caught up in the 'things of the world'. She had some jewelry in a jewelry box, but I never saw it on her. It was always in the box! She had no attachment to material possessions. Her family was her attachment and her greatest possession.
This is the legacy my mother left for me: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures that fill the heart and nourish the soul." And..."Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Beautiful mother, beautiful legacy.
My mother in her favorite roll as mother and grandmother.
Her kind heart extended not only to mankind, but animals as well.
