As we are headed into Mother’s Day I was reminiscing about my own mother. At 88, her death was sudden, but not unexpected. She and Dad were sitting quietly together on Friday evening after a day of activities together. They were married for 62 years. For most of those years, Dad was the pastor of the little Mennonite church in Johnsville, Ohio.
Mom never had a job title outside our home – VP, CFO, and CEO were not attractive to her. Her formal education ended with the 8th grade. But her life touched thousands. At her funeral we displayed a few selected quilts, “quiet books”, photos of cakes and other examples of her special ways of giving to her family, friends and community. On the floral spray we had ribbons celebrating her most memorable titles – “wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.” My son, her oldest grandchild, gave the eulogy. He talked freely about her special attributes, her sense of humor and her unique ways of teaching and shaping our lives. Six grandchildren shared the honor of being her pallbearers.
At times like those we are all reminded the importance of re-assessing what is important. Personal tragedy or times of loss force us to look more closely at what our lives are really accomplishing. Yes, our jobs and positions are important, but are probably not what we will be remembered for. Rather, those acts of kindness, times spent with our spouses, children, parents, and friends, are what will be recalled when we are gone. Stephen Covey, in “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” says we all need “to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy.”
What are you doing to leave a legacy? How is your life making a difference in the world? As 
important as our careers are, keep in mind that our work is simply one tool for a successful life. Don’t ignore building “success” in your family, socially, physically, spiritually and in personal development as well. Clara Rosa Miller, with no degrees, no titles, and no bestowed credentials, was one of the most “successful” and classy women I have ever known. Today I have a beautiful little granddaughter named Clara in her honor. This Clara also loves baking and is beginning to build her own legacy by providing her treats to attendees at the Sanctuary live events. I will celebrate Mother’s Day knowing my Mom’s wonderful legacy will move down through generations forever.
Dan, you bring up two questions that we should all take the time to answer. First, how is your life making a difference in the world? Second, what are you doing to leave a legacy? Our careers are only one of the many parts of our life. We need to create some margin in our lives so that we can spend time on the family, physical, and spiritual parts of our lives and leave a legacy based on our design and not one based on default. Thanks for sharing Dan!
Great reminder Dan!
I didn’t know that about Clara. How cool!
Kent – yep, she carries her great-grandmother’s name and we love it.
A Mom is irreplaceable – Her words, her instruction lives in your heart… You are such a hardworking, generous, and kind man – that I know you had a great mom. Thanks for sharing your heart Dan. Enjoy Mother’s Day — And Joanne, you too!
Sue – thanks so much. Yes, she was a great lady in so many ways.
Hey Dan, My book 9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom launched today and it is presently 5th on the Amazon List for Women’s Issues… We are doing a promotional encouraging moms to send kindle books to other moms…
Congratulations on your book, Sue! And a Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Thanks! It moved to #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Christian Women’s Issues –It’s been fun!
Love this…and what a great lady she must have been! I would have been honored to meet her. My youngest son married two weeks ago and my ex-husband told a friend of mine attending that “Housewives aren’t role models. They can’t be role models.” This, and other comments, came from the father of my children, the man I was married to for almost thirty years. And yes, I was a stay-at-home mom! His loss! Happy Mother’s Day to ALL moms!!
Cat – oh how sad. I can’t imagine diminishing the role of being a housewife and mother. Hopefully your children will see past his shortsightedness.
That’s not good! I have enjoyed having my wife stay home with our two daughters. She’s back at work now and cringe every day she goes to work (she works part time). I see how happy the girls are when she’s home, and how much our six year old learns from her mommy. I hope your kids see the value housewives bring to the family.
Thank you for sharing this, Dan! You honor your mom and mothers everywhere with this special tribute. You also struck a more personal chord with me — I have a Clara in my life, too! My grandmother. She spent most of her career years as a stay-at-home mom starting in the 1940s raising her three sons, one of them my dad. She still reigns in our family at 102 as [queen] mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She continues to care for all of us as she prays for each of us daily and shares her thoughts and memories of a life well-lived.
Evie – oh my goodness. 102 – what a blessing to have her still praying daily for you. And I’m thrilled to know her name is Clara. That’s sure special in our family.
Your mom sounded like quite the lady, Dan. I’m blessed by her life because she gave birth to you. Because of her, my life has been blessed through your testimony, example and courage. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Miller family women.
There’s nothing as powerful as the unconditional love of a mom.
Precious tribute to Grandma Clara! She was an awesome lady & a beautiful example for this granddaughter-in-law!!