I Owe My Life to My Father & Mother

By James Davis

The Scriptural passage selected for today is found in Proverbs 23:25: “May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice.” Have we ever stopped to think about the impact this verse should hold for us? I know I have not. I didn’t pattern my life to please my parents, but I did pursue goals which I knew they embraced and supported. My father was not a demonstrative man; however, I sensed in his actions when I chose a vocation that he was okay with it, then especially when I became a father. My mother always let me know if she were well-pleased with my pursuits. Now that I’m nearly 80 years of age, I can look back, think on this passage, reflect, and do a personal assessment. I owe my life to my father and mother, of course, but especially to my mother. When I was two weeks old, she much later told me (after I’d had my own child) that I’d had double pneumonia, and the doctor in our small town came to our house, did all he could for me, and left. She then took me, went out into the backyard, held me skyward above her head, and promised God that if He’d spare me, she’d dedicate me to Him. I was so deeply touched upon hearing this. What an act of pure love, a mother’s deep and abiding love. Amen! As a result, I hope that we’ll all think for a moment of our parents, do an assessment of ourselves, and give thanks for the sacrifices our parents made for us. I trust I made mine proud. My father passed away in 1983, my mother in 2004. I miss them both.