Why My Mom is My Hero
By: Sarah Martenson
When I got asked to write a blog about my mom, instantly a flood emotions and pride (the good kind) rushed over me at the thought of being able to put a spotlight on a woman who is most comfortable in the background and would say she’s the last person deserving of any recognition. A story comes to mind right off the bat when I think about how special my mom is… A few months ago, I was talking with a woman at church that I had never met before. As we continued chatting, we introduced ourselves and I told her my name. Immediately, her demeaner changed and tears welled up in her eyes and she asked me, “Wait… Are you Ruth’s daughter?”. I said, “I sure am!”. She melted, and started to share about the deep impact my mom has had on her life, how she makes her feel and that she carries such a deep love and respect for her. I drank it all in, and believe it or not, this type of encounter is normal for me when people talk about my mom. Their reactions only confirm what I see in her... My mom deserves volumes of novels, but I’m going to try to highlight a few reasons why my mom is a hero in my eyes in a few hundred words (which is impossible).
Firstly, my mom knows no limits when it comes to time, distance or monetary generosity to make someone feel loved. This woman adopts and takes care of EVERYONE (even our neighborhood cat), and goes above and beyond doing it. She used to send me to school with not one, but three lunches to give to my friends whose parents didn’t make them lunch, she would make breakfast for our neighbor and take him to school every day like he was one of her own kids, and she continues to visit and take food to a man (she calls her friend) who lives at a bus stop near her house… She has always opened her door wide to anyone who lacks belonging.
She will stay up into the wee hours of the night making food for a birthday or for a friend who is sick or mourning. I remember one night, I stayed up late helping her make enchiladas for someone (she can make Mexican food like no one’s business!). As we approached 1:30 am, I did not hold back complaining about how tired I was and how I wanted to go to bed ASAP. She continued working vigorously, and I looked at her in amazement and asked, “Mom! How are you not tired?!”, and in true Ruth fashion she replied, “I am tired, I just know I need to do this”. It was one of those moments that will be engrained in my mind forever when I think about my mom and the lengths she goes to always put others first, no matter how spent she is. Every action and ounce of her work ethic is fueled by her conviction to love the people around her with excellence (including strangers). The depth of her love and service amazes me, but what amazes me ever more, is knowing from where God has brought her.
My mom’s life is the clearest example I’ve seen of God’s life-transforming power. More recently, she’s told me and my siblings more about her childhood and the dysfunction that surrounded her family growing up. Being raised in a house where abuse, infidelity and addiction were commonplace, she told us that she dreaded being home as a kid. When she’d turn the corner walking home from school and would see her dad’s car parked outside, she’d instantly feel sick to her stomach. My initial thought was, “I can’t imagine that… Our home couldn’t be more different.” She opened up to us about other situations and decisions she made in her younger years that she regretted and marked her life forever. I couldn’t imagine her any different than I know her now… this pillar of faith, full of gentle strength and wisdom.
Putting all the pieces together, I realized my mom had something to do with this abundant life in Christ that my siblings and I grew up in. When my mom met the Lord, she was made whole and sought healing and freedom from her past. Her and the Lord stomped on the curses that had plagued her family for generations and wrote a different story for us. I know this might sound daunting or difficult, but when I ask my mom how she did it, she responds with such childlike faith. She says something like, “I didn’t know what I was doing, me and your dad just obeyed God and asked Him to help us, and He did.” There is so much more I wish I could say about her…
The word “mom” brings up an array of emotions (both good and bad) depending on our experiences, but my hope and prayer is that you are encouraged by my mom’s life. Ruth is the mom she is today because she grasped the length and height and depth of God’s love for her (Eph. 3:18-19). It’s a love that’s alive and transforms and bleeds into the way we love everyone around us. It leaves a trail of blessing for the generations to come after you. It’s a love that is available for all of us. No matter where you’re coming from this Mother’s Day, my prayer is that you would grasp how deeply you are loved by God, and that His perfect love would fuel you as you strive to love the people around you. This weekend, send a special message to your moms, your wives, grieving moms you may know, those who have lost their moms, and the women in your life who have impacted your life like a mom, and let them know how much you love them!