Third Sunday in Lent | Day Nineteen of Forty
She came into this world on Wednesday, December 8, 1920. She was the eighth of nine children born to Mark Ramey Burnam and Edmonia Wimberly Burnam. She lived the entirety of her life, except for one year, in Trigg County, which is located 80 miles northwest of Nashville, TN, in western Kentucky. 1939 was spent in Pembroke, KY with her father, two sisters, and a brother, where her dad managed a farm. She often referenced 1939 as “the most miserable year of my life!”
My mother was reared in rural poverty and hardship. Her mother died when she was only five-years-old. I remember when I was a teenager how my mother would, occasionally, weep because she never had the opportunity to know her mother and she missed her. I thought that was odd until Thanksgiving Day 1998 when I suddenly began missing my father who had died 31 years ago that week when I was only 12. I found myself weeping because I missed him. I shared that with my mom acknowledging that, in a very limited way, I understood why she wept from time-to-time. I validated her emotions in a way I had not previously.
Momma didn’t have much of a formal education. She made it to the sixth grade, but I don’t think completed it. That formal education occurred in a rural one-room school. Even though she lacked education, she was a wise woman as she recognized its value. When I told her more than 40 years ago that I was going to commit my life to Christ in vocational Christian ministry she insisted that I be an educated preacher. She told me that I was going to college and to that preacher school (“seminary” was not in her vocabulary!) that was somewhere in Kentucky. She said that there were too many “dumb _ _ _” (you figure out the word!) preachers in the world and that I wasn’t going to be one of them. I got educated in college and that preacher school. I hope I’m not one of those preachers she judged dumb!
She also told me to never ask for one of those ministerial discounts. In her work as a waitress for more than 30 years she said many preachers – not all, but many – wanted their meals for free and tipped cheaply or not at all. She said if someone offers you a discount, you receive it graciously; but don’t you ever ask for one! I’m happy to confess that I’ve never asked for one and the ones I’ve been offered were received humbly and graciously.
She had to work most Sundays in her profession as a waitress; but she always made sure I was at the Lord’s House on the Lord’s Day. And I’m glad she did.
Lillie Burnam Gentry confessed her faith in the waters of baptism a long time ago. If memory serves me correctly she started out Methodist, but spent the last 65 years as a Baptist. More importantly, she lived the vast majority of her life as a Christian. I’m elated that she did.
This world was blessed as my mother walked through it for more than 95 years. My life, for sure, is certainly much better. I’m pleased that much of her walk was with me. I’m definitely gratified that I walked with her for nearly 59 and one-half years. I’m honored, humbled, and thrilled to say that I was and am her son.
I will look forward to a glad reunion with her and other saints who touched my life and made it better. They are all gathered in Paradise with the Christ whom they confessed. Someday I’ll be there. Hopefully, you’ll be there too.
I’ll rehearse my memories of my mom often. And as I do, I’ll do my best to confess the Christ she confessed and be faithful to Him. I pray I’ll heed the exhortation to “Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:7-8). I pray you will, too.
In considering the outcome of my mother’s way of life, I know beyond all doubt that her faith is worth imitating. And I’m going to do my best to imitate it.
