May’s second Sunday is always a day of great celebration. Mother’s Day is a special time to honor our mothers if they are living or to remember them if they have passed on. In either case, all children owe their mothers an enormous debt of gratitude and we should all thank God for these wonderful individuals He put into our lives.
There’s a story about a woman in Mark 14 that helps us appreciate our mothers. The Gospel writer tells how she broke an alabaster box containing expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head. When some tablemates protested this apparent waste of money, Jesus answered, “Leave her alone… She has done a beautiful thing to me… She did what she could.
Jesus went on to tell them that she was anointing His body for burial although this made no sense to them since He was young and healthy. Nevertheless, Jesus knew what was coming and He commended her for her devoted service.
This story reminds me of my own mother and of many other women I know and have known. Without being showy or pushy, they just do whatever they can whenever they can however they can for whomever they can.
Mrs. Flora Coffman certainly comes to my mind whenever I think of this passage. Not because of perfume but because of her quiet, humble devoted service to Jesus and to others.
Before she went to live with Jesus last July at nearly 106 years of age, Flora was very active. Years ago, she and her husband Harold, would go on Brethren Disaster trips all over the country. While Harold was a gifted carpenter and could do anything construction related, Flora fixed meals for the workers. Many volunteers were privileged to eat the delicious fare she served up.
Although I never enjoyed her cooking on a disaster trip, I did enjoy some in her home. She had a gift of hospitality and often had guests in even in her 90s. She would use her good china and provide some of the best vittles this side of glory. When guests offered to help with dishes, she routinely waved us off preferring instead to visit over a game of dominos.
As she aged, her health prevented her from traveling, but it didn’t stop her from preparing food for church carry-ins and socials. And it didn’t stop her from quilting. Flora was a fixture at the Valley Pike Church of the Brethren’s quilting group each Tuesday and did this intricate work at home besides.
Most of her quilts were donated to the Shenandoah District’s Disaster Auction held each spring. All of the proceeds from the furniture, plants, food, toys, quilts and more is used to help individuals rebuild their homes and their lives following losses from tornados, hurricanes, or floods.
Although she could no longer join the construction crews and fix their meals, she could raise money to buy their food, tools, materials, and supplies. And she did. God only knows how many tens of thousands of dollars were raised through her determined efforts to “do what she could.”
To my knowledge, Flora never preached a sermon nor taught a Sunday School class. She never sang a solo or played a musical instrument (although she did donate some). But with the gifts she did have, she blessed others and brought glory to God.
Next Friday and Saturday (May 19-20) is the 31st Annual Disaster Auction at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. And even though Flora didn’t make any quilts this year to donate, some of her former creations will be sold and resold as people continue to offer them to raise money for a godly cause.
As we remember and honor our mothers this weekend, let’s thank God for each of them for “doing what she could” and may their examples inspire our own godly deeds.
Blessings, George