Inherited Faith:
Today’s service is about Faith. In particular, my Mom’s faith. I never really thought about this much. As you can imagine, I was a workout as a child. I am 1 out of 7 kids: 3 girls and 4 boys..all born in different states. I was born in Germany in the Army Hospital. Brother Tom was born right after our 8 day voyage across the ocean from Germany. He was born on Govener’s Island.
Growing up in this church we learned right from wrong. How to pray..How to work with other people. Everybody’s Mom was watching the children. Most Moms were Sunday School teachers. I remember vacation Bible School – warm Koolaid, hot cookies – arts and crafts. Definitely a great time to be young.
I don’t really remember just when I saw my mother’s faith. But I do remember she had a growth on her neck that had to be removed. You know the freckle’s ugly cousin. When I was about 13 years old. And, since I was me, I couldn’t stay at home without supervision. So, I had to go the the hospital when Mom got her surgery. She had her Bible and her purse. She read on the way to West Point Hospital. She had Faith. That was without question. My Mom was JESUS’S FRIEND.
Mom went through many hardships. Loss of family members, cancer and her faith never waivered.
I remember the ladies in the choir—They had a white neck things and Mom would iron and them and the cloth covers for communion were ironed and starched. No spots were allowed.
No food or drink in the sanctuary, No men wearing hats in the sanctuary. The floor is the first thing you see when you walk in—make sure it is clean. And, the brass collection plates must be polished too.
“That ramp is for the handicapped people..I’ll take the stairs”
“Those back stairs are too steep, let’s walk around.”
These are some of the things Mom said at church most every Sunday and the candles. Light the candles!
7-9-25 was Mom’s birthday. Every time we went to the doctor, that’s the question they ask. I took Mom to the doctor quite a few times. She was a tough woman.
When I was 13, on my birthday, I was attacked by a dog on my paper route. The dog’s name was Rusty and he dragged me around the Cash’s yard for about 20 minutes. Mr. Cash came out and got him off me. My ear was cut and I had a hole in my arm. Mom was called and she came and picked me up.
The first thing she said was “You have to finish your paper route. People are counting on you”. So she drove me around to the rest of my route. Then, she took me to the hospital for stitches. After getting patched up, we headed straight to school. I said “I can go home.” She said, “No, there is nothing happening there. You have to go to school.”
My parents were very strict. Some of my friends called my Dad the warden. Summer jobs included moving the wood pile around a few times, sweeping the dirt driveway, my Dad’s favorite. These jobs kept you busy and out of trouble. Also, taught you life lessons if you paid attention.
I’m sure having 7 children is a test of patience. In reality, my Mom was a saint. She went through life making sure we were all taken care of. Her love for this church is something that I got from her and it is something that I cherish.
So, in closing this message, I want to say that the lessons and quality time I spent with Mom were a blessing. Mom was a real Christian woman. She stood by her faith and church. Her Faith in the Lord brought her through many minefields of life. Dad passed away, my older sisters passed away, Joe Boy passed, but, she knew they were going to a better place and she would see them again. This type of toughness can only come by great Faith in the Lord. Mom was a great example of what people should act like. As I grow older, I hope and pray to be more like my Mom in her Faith. My Mom never stood up here to give a sermon, but, she sure lit the pathway so I could.
Thank you Mom for sharing your Faith so we could see what it is supposed to look like. Thank you and Amen.
by Kevin O'Connell 1st