Early on in our Stroll Down Legacy Lane, I shared with you part of my Daddy’s legacy story. Today I want to introduce you to my Mother, Barbara Colwell.
She was born Barbara Ann Parker in October of 1938, one of eight children of Newman and Laura Parker. She had four older brothers, which helped to weave a certain resiliency into the fabric of her being. Her dad was her school teacher until around her high school years. Her closest friends and family members call her, Bobbie. She graduated from Union County High School here in Blairsville, Georgia and married my Daddy in 1958. For several years she worked as a teller at, what was then, Union County Bank. I was born in 1964 and my sister, Leslie, came along in 1966. A few years later, Mother ceased working at the bank and became a stay-at-home mom. She cooked at least two meals a day, kept house, did laundry, and shuttled Leslie and me to school, ballet, baton, band and cheerleading. She was always there for us, as was my Daddy. Nothing was more important to them than their family. This continues to be true today.
Mother has been a powerful influence in the lives of my sister’s boys, my nephews, Parker and Coleson. The boys learned how to swim, make change, and ride a bicycle because of Mother. I can still see her running along behind each of the boys, just barely holding onto the bicycle until they realized they were actually RIDING WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS!!! She did the same for Leslie and me when we were that age. She has been cook, maid, laundry attendant, chauffeur, puller of loose teeth, healer of skinned knees, seamstress, character molder, chaperone, chief encourager, and so much more—all without ever drawing a paycheck for any of it.
Mother and me
Yet, what speaks the loudest to me is Mother’s devotion to my Daddy. As you will recall from this post, Daddy had polio and walked with the help of a full leg brace and two crutches. He was disabled, yet that never mattered to Mother. Today’s society all but shuns those who are not beautiful or have perfect bodies. Not so with the love between my Mother and Daddy. Mother was, until the day Daddy died, his biggest supporter and fan. She was often the legs he had, but could not use. She carried luggage when we went on vacation. She put out his clothes each evening for the next day. She carried groceries. She simply did what needed to be done without complaint or question. Mother was Daddy’s complete-er—a true helpmate. I recall her saying not long after Daddy died that she was sure God placed her on earth to love and help my Dad.
Self-less devotion. It’s something we don’t see a lot of these days. All too often we (and this includes me) are so wrapped up in what we want and what we think we deserve that we don’t stop long enough to consider other people. I, for one, need to think less of myself and more of others.
This Saturday, October 22, Mother will celebrate her 73rd birthday. I am blessed to have her as my Mother. I love you, Mother.
MEDITATION MOMENT: Is there a person in your life who is a picture of selfless devotion? Tell me about them.
