Mother's Day 2006
Betsy Seymour

Happy Mothers Day...A very special day to honor mothers and actually all who love a nurture children. I always look forward to being with my family in church especially on this day because I leave with a good feeling in my heart...inspired by the strength and wisdom of those MOTHERS who speak.

When asked to be this years chosen mother I was honored and looked upon it as yet another opportunity to thank this Queen of Peace Church community who has been so incredibly supportive of my family. Wonderful friends...Families who have become FAMILY...ANGELS making food and gift deliveries...a MOMS ministry that embraces me and all of you who don't even know me but offer HANDS, HUGS and SMILES each week making this a place where I build my strength to move forward.

My name is Betsy Seymour...mother of two very special boys...Zach, 19 and Tyler, 14...wife to Bud Seymour who lives in our hearts and in heaven...and professional teacher of children.

Our family is still reeling from the devastating loss of my husband Bud this past year and when people ask me how I am doing... I often say...ONE DAY AT A TIME...

which reminded me of the message of this book that inspired me years ago...

On this day where we typically watch people scramble for GIFTS... My gift to you is a reminder of... The Precious Present.

The story begins with a boy listening to an old man talking about The Precious Present..."It is a present because it is a gift and anyone who receives it is happy forever. The boy is intrigued and the rest of the story is about his discovery of what this present really is.

At one point in the story the ponders...
"IT is wise for me to think about the past and learn from it, but it is not wise for me to be in the past for I will lose myself."

I find my mind frequently drifting back through the past...how a 21 year old girl...born and raised in FREEZING Buffalo NY ends up 1200 miles away in Gainesville FL...Learn from the past...

I learned so much about my own Mothers love and devotion when we had our own children...isn't that when you develop a realization of how deep a parents love can be?...When asked each year what my own mother wanted for mothers day, she always responded the same way..."Just good kids" (she had 5 of them)...how much I learned from her gentle love.

I learned so much from my Buddy, Mr Seymour to some of you...who had a magical way with 8th graders and a love of American History, basketball, and music which he shared with everyone he could. He was my parenting coach who had a special knack for parenting with far fewer words than I had to use. I learned so much from him...

Like the story of the boy...I must learn from the past but not dwell there...

Both of us found a profession that we love...and with our combined 47 years of teaching we thought that we could learn a great deal about good parenting because between the two of us we have taught some of the most incredible children in existence. The common theme of these well parented kids seemed to be LOVE plus DISCIPLINE...That teaching that a parent does that sets the expectations...

A story that my husband Bud would frequently tell, was one of his favorite parent conferences...The parent walked in and said...I have two questions...Is my son doing his work? Is he respectful?
Short, sweet and to the point...very powerful. Parents are their childrens first and most important teachers...and discipline actually means teaching.

We are frequently tempted to rescue our children...and what we sometimes end up doing is stealing their struggles...those struggles that often lead to learning and building strong character.

I look around and see so many of you who are remarkable parents...It is by far our most important job. I am grateful that I have learned from many of you...

In the story...the boy finally realizes that the Precious Present is actually being content with the HERE AND NOW.

So with that in mind...let us all enjoy every moment of the PRESENT...even if just folding laundry...light a candle to remind yourself of Gods presence and let it be a time that we reflect on how grateful we are to have family around us to fold for. ...for this time goes by fast and is precious.

And when we are so busy and caught up in so much activity...let us remember to take time out when we hear our children say "Mommy...watch this." Or later in life when it sounds more like..."Mom can you come here for minute." Time goes by so quickly and is so precious.

So for those of you that are stuck today thinking that you have no gift to give a MOM...Think about those simple pleasures in life that don't cost anything..begin a family tradition today...give a hug...say I love you...create a heartwarming memory.

So have a wonderful Mothers Day...and may everyone celebrate the gift that makes you happy forever...God's gift to us...The Precious Present...And God's GIFT of eternal LIFE.