Mother’s Day is coming this Sunday. I am delighted my mom is in Pensacola for the weekend. Bennett graduates from the University of Mobile on Saturday. My parents are here for the ceremonies and are staying over for Sunday worship. It is not often I get this day with my mother. It is always a joy to be together on this day.

Today I have been thinking back over my 54 years as Jean Traylor’s son. I am told the day they went to the hospital in Detroit it was very cold and a big snow was on the ground. That was December 14, 1953. One of my first memories is Christmas in Michigan and a new Tonka truck set. It was cool! Then we had a dog I loved. But my favorite early memory Mom reminds me of was my imaginary horse I tied in the garage each evening.

When I was in the 2nd grade we moved south to Pisgah, Alabama where my parents entered the grocery business. In that small town I had a great childhood. It is filled with memories of love, adventure, sports, work and church. Mom was always a major player in my life and I am grateful today for her.

At 17 I heard the call to preach. Mom told me we had enough boring preachers and if I was going to pursue the ministry I would need to study. So she drove me to the Baptist Bookstore (now LifeWay) to purchase my first books and as I began preaching she encouraged me greatly.

This weekend if your mother is alive I encourage you to thank her for all she has done for you. Make a call or send a card. Not many days go by that a death notice is not posted on my Olive e-mail telling me that a parent of one of our members has died. After praying for that person I often pick up the phone and call to convey my thoughts and prayers to them. That is a tough day for a grieving child.

If you have your mom this weekend give her some love. I plan to!

Pastor Ted Traylor