God Loved Me So Much, He Gave Me a Mother

Leviticus 19:3 (NLT) 

Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God. 

Proverbs 1:8-9 (KJV) 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 

Proverbs 10:1 (NLT) 

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child[a] brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. 

Proverbs 19:26 (KJV) 

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 

Proverbs 20:20 

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 

As I write this article, the sun is brightly shining, and the weather is absolutely gorgeous.  I am listening to praise and worship music and spending some quality time with the Lord.  I am also reflecting on a very special lady who gave me life, graced my life, and planted a seed of holiness and righteousness within me – my mother.  Some of you may know, the Lord called my mother home to rest from labor more than 8 years ago, and there is not a day that passes that I do not think about her.  I am proud to say that everyone ought to have a mother like Mother Annie Louise Pruitte. If you had the opportunity to meet her, you would agree she was someone you would never forget. 

The Scriptures give several examples of how God wants us to honor, obey and respect our mothers, and I have listed a few.  My mother invested heavily in my success.  She was not allowed to receive an education, but she made sure I went to the best of schools.  She did not have grand and prestigious positions and career opportunities.  But she taught me how to dress for success and walk amongst kings and queens and hold my own.  She never was appointed to a place of honor in the church.  But she taught me how to fast, pray and lay before the Almighty God and get His attention!  She was a special lady. 

Now that she is gone, I am left with so many wonderful memories of her and her ministry to me.  Before I accepted Jesus as my Savior, she was my keeper (smile).  She protected my innocence fiercely.  She shielded me from people and “things” that would have destroyed me.  She taught me how to honor and respect women.  She taught me how to worship and love the Lord.  The late Bishop William Haven Bonner told me that my mother and four of her friends started noonday prayer at Mount Olive COGIC in 1961.  Yes, my mother took me to noonday prayer whilst I was in the womb. 

I can still remember the last time I saw her.  We were sitting in her living room and she gave me a big hug.  Then she looked at me and told me how happy she was that I had come to visit her and my dad.  Little did I know that I would never see her again. 

The Lord knew I would need someone like Mother Annie Pruitte to mother me and prepare me for a life in Jesus, a life in ministry and a life in holiness.  In fact, He placed her in my life until He knew I was ready to stand for Him without leaning on her.  Thank you, God, for sending her into my life. 

I do not know your relationship with your mother.  I do not know your mother’s walk in Christ. But I do know God has sent a godly woman in your life to keep you on track.  He has sent a godly woman into your life to teach you the ways of God, to pray and to live holy and sanctified.  I pray that you will call her, buy her flowers, treat her to a meal, and most of all embrace her and tell her that you appreciate her and that you love her. 

Thank you Mother Annie Louise Pruitte – I will always love and cherish you. 

Happy Mother’s Day!