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This is long overdue . . . maybe because the right words are hard to craft; perhaps impossible. Nevertheless, it is more than worth the attempt to share with you about a most godly woman who has poured her life into mine for just over 40 years now. Her name is Sherry Barnard, but I call her mom.

She is the Proverbs 31 woman. Many women have done excellently–true. But my mom surpasses them all.  She has raised two boys: one who is pretty much perfect, and then there’s my brother. (It’s o.k. mom, I’m just getting back at Brandon for all the camp illustrations he has used me in.) Her career as a nurse never came before her family. As a matter of fact, after working for a well-known pediatrician for a period of time, she left the clinic and went to work as a school nurse so that she could be in the same school my brother and I attended. When we were out of school, she was at home with us. I’m not sure if she saw that as a good thing, but she is still sane to this day and the nervous twitch has diminished significantly.

Perhaps the most significant investment my mom has made in my life is one that cannot be measured this side of Heaven, but certainly is measured by the standards of such a celestial place. From the moment I first drew breath, and even before, I have been prayed over, and prayed for, and prayed through many things. In the difficult moments of my life, she gave wise counsel from a heart that overflowed with mercy. She was there when my heart was full of anger and resentment towards God; when I was running from Him and found myself waist deep in the prodigal’s pig pen. I still remember very vividly sitting on our plaid (ugly) couch in a drafty parsonage one night, and with tears in her eyes my mom said, “Shawn stop running.” And then she shared with me a verse that spoke deeply to me:  “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . .”  Acts 3:19-20 That was the beginning of the change that would soon happen in my life.

Time doesn’t allow me to tell you of all that I could about her . . . if there were such words.  But know this:  her smile is contagious; her sense of humor is hilarious; her attitude is optimistic; her charm is genuine; her presence is comforting; her friendship is priceless; her love is overwhelming; her faith is firm; her example is Christ-like; and her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

To know my mom is to know the beauty of God’s most valued creation, and the best He blesses us with in a godly woman.  Her name is Sherry, but I call her mom.

I love you mom.  Happy Mother’s Day!