A Letter To My Sisters on Our Mother’s Birthday

Now that I’m a Mother, I think I miss ours even more. Because I understand her sacrifices, her frustrations, motivation, her joy, and her determination to not faint and raise the four of us. No parent gets it all right but when they know Christ, their mistakes even work out for the good. And I can attest to it.

Praise God for our Mother, Eleanor Bowler. Praise God for her Mother, Martha Lee Bagley, our Grandmother. Each one taught one through daily example. We are a part of God’s Armed Forces and we’ve been ‘activated’. We have been called out of reserve duty to Motherhood after years of training.

We are on assignment from God knowing He made us daughters to Eleanor Mafalda Bagley, born October 7, 1954. Her earthly body has passed on, but her spirit still lives. And her legacy of motherhood is alive and well in each of us. It’s not to be taken lightly, because God gave us one of his best.

As mothers, we didn’t start behind the 8-ball. Yes, we all (even you, Letitia) had to go through first time jitters. But God gave us a little extra and then told us He would give more wisdom if we ask. So we, my sisters, can honor our mother’s memory through honoring God and recognizing that He gave us a Mother we can actually imitate. Not everyone can say that. And when we recognize just how great God’s love is for us in this respect, then it will continue to hold us, steady us, and carry us through not just the high points but the low points of motherhood.

We are on assignment.

Nothing is by chance. God makes no mistakes. He foreknew. He knew Lynnette would have an Aniyah and an Emani. He knew I would have an Olivia and a Daniel. He knew Lenora would have a JL and a Baby J. He knew Letitia would have a Zamar. We have been under the covering of the righteousness of God since our earthly birth. Our grandparents, both maternal and paternal, knew Jesus. We are the descendants of a God legacy, falling in line, to be discussed during the holidays at family get togethers, fondly thought of while flipping through an album, or smiled over tearfully when we depart this Earth by our own children.

We are active duty.

So my charge to each of us as Mothers is that we faint not for in due season, we shall reap a harvest. Faint not as God showed us what that looks like all our lives from Lucy to Mildred, Martha to Eleanor … Recognize God’s love for us in the assignment. We can cherish the memory of our Mother by honoring God, thanking Him, praising Him for all He has done for us. Presenting our lives before Him as a living sacrifice knowing He loves us no matter what we do or what we have done. He sees us through the Blood.
Believing that not only did He prepare us for the assignment of motherhood but He made sure we would all get an A. It was done on the Cross. It. Is. Finished. A done deal.

So as we go about our day as we do everyday thinking of our Mother, on this Day, her birthday, let us meditate on God’s love for each of us. Let us start to recount all the ways He has blessed and rescued us. Let us think about where we could have ended up after our Mother lost her husband, our earthly Father, Lawrence Sylvester Bower.

Think about how we could have been on public assistance instead He blessed us with a Mother who was not afraid to get another job. And Aunts, Great Aunts and Grandparents who gave without being asked. We could have never learned about God as she could have denounced Him when Dad died, but she kept us in church at New Site, knowing God will place a hedge of protection around us and allow us to be covered by His people in the absence of our Mother. Think of hard times when peers didn’t think we would be able to college or when money was short, God always made a way.

Think on the times Mom was tired or sick, but she held her head up and she kept pressing toward the mark, never giving up even to the end of her life. Think about the many, many times we tried her patience. Think on the many chances we were given. Look at what she gave up to make sure we would come out on top. As grown women, we should know she could have been doing anything. She NEVER gave up on us.

She didn’t teach us weakness, selfishness, and defeat.

She never went AWOL. Mom did not abandon her assignment.

She was active duty in God’s Armed Forces.

We have never have ANY reason to hang our head. Never. We never have a reason to question God’s love for us. He knows us. He has blessed us so much all our lives. His grace abounds and much more so in the times off trouble.

So this day, October 7, 2014, Mom’s birthday, let us be thankful to God for the time we had with Mom. Let us draw from and be directed by the Holy Spirit, and know God loves us. Be proud and thankful for the assignment.

We are active duty in God’s Armed Forces. We are in the Proverbs 31 Unit, Motherhood Detachment. We are armed with the Word and suited in righteousness. And God said go and recover and discover all I have for you. Be thankful. Believe it is done and watch Him work it all out.

Enjoy Your Day! Celebrate Christ!