Tribute to Christian Mothers

Everyone is talking about mothers this week.  Since mine has gone on to be with Jesus, I think of all the women who have "mothered" me.  Right now I am thinking of the Christian heritage that has come from my grandmother and great grandmother.

My great grandmother, Mary Wilson Cox (1847-1931) was a remarkable women whose influence cast a very long shadow in my family.  In an age when women "stayed home," she was a church planter, inspirational speaker, midwife, teacher, and poet, to name a few.  Five of her poems remain to us.  Here is one in which she praises her mother for the Heritage of Faith that she passed down.


Thoughts of Mother

Our thoughts go back to Mother,
To that cottage on the knoll,
Where we knelt each night in prayer,
For the strengthening of the soul.

Our thoughts go back to Mother,
As she read God’s Holy Book,
And then we often wondered,
Why such pleasure in it took.

But when we gave our heart to God,
We learned to love it too,
Because we knew within our own heart,
That God’s blessed word was true.

Our thoughts go back to Mother,
As she sat in the rocking-chair,
And sang with sweet abandon,
There is no sorrow there.

Our thoughts go back to Mother,
As each Sabbath rolls around,
And we with our friends and neighbors,
In the church pew we were found.

We are thinking, dearest Mother,
Of the many who sought and found the Lord,
And many who long since have gone,
To gain their rich reward.

We will ne’er forget you, Mother,
Though our hair is turning gray,
And our eyes are not as bright perhaps,
As in our youthful day.

Our feet are not as fleet as when,
We used to walk together,
To church and prayer meetings,
No difference what the weather.

Our voice is not as strong, me-thinks,
As when we would so often sing,
And meet with one accord so oft,
To praise our Heavenly King.

But Christ is just the same, Mother,
As in the days of yore;
He will guide and keep us to the end,
And save us ever-more.

By Mary W. Cox
1847-1931