She is often the voice in my head...

Anne Reynolds aka momma

Throughout the generations the relationship between mother and daughter has been depicted in literature, art, and film.  One film, Steel Magnolia's, is embedded in my head as one that gives a Hollywood rendition of my relationship with my mom and all of her friends.

In Steel Magnolia's Julia Roberts (all-time fave in my book) and Sally Fields (my mom resembles her in looks and the kind of mom she is caste as) live in an ultra-southern Louisiana town set in the 80's.  I remember when this movie came out and my mom went to see it on a "girls night out."  It's a tear-jerker about the complexities of life, the sacrifices for family, the unsolicited advice every daughter should actually listen to,  and the joy in life.  And it has a beautiful and not-so-far-from-the-truth look at relationships between women.  Needless to say it's a top five-er for me.

Watching this movie and the many scenes that take place in and around Truvy's (Dolly Parton) home salon, I think about my mom's different groups of friends she has from her different seasons of life.  Although her gab times are not held under a dryer chair, her retention of friendships is one of a kind.  She remains friends with a group of gals she knew before she was born!  She has her college friends that continue to see each other through children's weddings, illness, job changes, and increasing numbers in their class reunion.  Then she has past and present neighbor friends who are now scattered all over Georgia and Alabama. Next she has freinds from work, who she has the utmost professionalism with but her heart is sensitive to their personal needs too.  In this group, a dear friend of my mom's just went to sit at the feet of Jesus after an arduous battle with pancreatic cancer.  This friendship illustrated the power of the Gospel in the marketplace.  And rounding out this wide circle of friends are the G.G.'s (mom's accountability group aka "God's Girls" and also the name most of them will be called as grandmas) plus (I say "plus" because there are more women from her community group, the Bereans, that do just about everything with the GG's save the once a week meeting).

So now you can see multiple "salon" circles my mom has and my amazement for her capacity.  Really I know it's not just her capacity but the specific way God has gifted her by the Holy Spirit.  My mom is a champion, cheerleader, wise sage, and exhort-er in the lives of people.  She has the gift of hospitality, exhortation, administration, and mercy.  Here are a few verses I think of when I think of my mom:

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  -Matthew 5:7-8

"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they niether toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is through in the over, how much more will he clothe you?"  - Luke 12:27-28

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering adn sacrifice to God."  - Ephesians 5:2

"She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hasnds to the needy...Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  gie her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."  -Proverbs 31: 20, 30-31

She is joyful, funny, innocent, merciful, encourgaing, driven, and always willing to try something new.  She loves our family with the love of Christ.  She is often the voice in my head and the shoes I will never fill and that's ok!  She is a true reflection of her name, grace.