Carolyn (Hovarter) Stahl
1939 – 2011
“Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised. Give her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone.” Proverbs 31:30-31 (GNT)
Many things come to mind when I think of my mother. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but I grew up knowing I was loved. She helped inspire me to become the woman I am today. Here’s a bit of what my M-O-T-H-E-R meant to me.
M is for MAGIC.
My mother was a seasoned magician. She made short-bangs look cool when I used scissors to cut my hair in first grade, and performed miracles on last-minute school projects. Cuts and bruises instantly felt better after mom’s magic kiss.
O is for OUTGOING.
Mom never met a stranger. It didn’t help that she was a supermom of the seventies! Before becoming an English teacher and guidance counselor at the junior high, Mom sang in the choir, helped teach vacation bible school, and led the high school youth ministry at our church. She seemed to know (and stopped to talk with) everyone she saw!
T is for TEARFUL GOODBYES.
Whether I was heading back to college or packing up my family after a weekend visit, she always said goodbye with tears in her eyes. Sometimes the outbreak of emotion would cause me to feel uncomfortable. With my oldest son off at college, I’ve been guilty of a few tearful goodbyes myself. In retrospect, I realize that motherhood is a progression of thrilling beginnings and parting transitions. Sorry, mom, for not understanding this sooner.
H is for HEART.
My mother fell in love with and married her high school sweetheart. They celebrated 54 years of marriage before she passed away in December, 2011. She loved God, her family, and her friends.
E is for EDUCATION.
Being an educator herself, mom put education as a top priority in my life. Have you ever had your mom as a teacher in school? I did – for one semester in seventh grade. It was the hardest I’ve ever worked to earn an A in English! She also taught me how to water ski, how to plant a garden, and how to play the piano.
R is for RELAXATION.
Mom loved to spend time relaxing on the water or in the front yard at our lake cottage in northern Indiana. Around our house we played games, put together puzzles, went on scavenger hunts, and sang Christmas carols around the piano. My mom knew how to unwind and have a good time!
What does your M-O-T-H-E-R mean to you?
