Usually, anyone who comes into contact with Mum instantly falls in love with her. That isn’t surprising because of the living water that flows from her for all those who have thirsty souls. When you listen to Mum it’s like the Spirit of Christ talking to you with a warmth of love and compassion washing all over you and flooding your soul. My cousins have spoken of this. Mum has given my family the richest inheritance of them all. The blessing that God passes down from generation to generation to those who love Him. I speak unashamedly of this blessing upon my own children and of the influence of my mother on their lives. The daughter of a Methodist Minister meant that Mum learnt to put the needs and desires of others always above her own. Her Saviour died sacrificially so that is the way Mum lived. As a boy it is fair to say that I wasn’t the best at displaying the same selfless qualities of my mother. I hadn’t learnt the lesson at that stage and actually I’m still in the process of learning it to this day. Mum would never make me do anything out of compulsion. It always had to be done through love. I think it’s true to say that I’ve never been passionate about doing the dishes and those other household tasks like cleaning my room. Mum would implore, cajole and even bribe me to do the dishes. Well at least dry the cutlery. But if I didn’t do these things from a willing heart they simply didn’t get done. And so I’ll leave it to your imagination as to who did them. At the time I may not have appreciated the life lesson Mum taught me, but it has been a lesson I’ve tried to teach my children and I pray will be passed down from generation to generation. It’s fair to say that Dad didn’t see the lesson quite the same way as Mum and he balanced things out in his own special way. I want to express my appreciation to Mum for the completely unbiased love she has for all of her sons. There has never been a day in my life that I felt Mum showed a personal preference to my brothers over me. I think that this is what made our home life such a peaceful place to be. I always loved coming home because that is where the love was. I’m valued I’m precious. Why would I want to be somewhere else? One of the reasons I love my brothers so much is because we didn’t physically fight. I’m not saying we didn’t argue and have sibling rivalry and I still love beating my brothers to this day. But it’s hard to physically fight in the environment of love that Mum provided. One thing that used to drive Mum crazy was when we played pool and the allegations of cheat would be aired over a debatable pool shot. Of course I was always in the right but it’s strange how David and Andrew could never see it. Puzzling that. Being the youngest, I have always cheekily said that as sons Mum saved the best till last. Ignoring my self-praise, my brothers Andrew and David are amazing men and such a credit to the input of our mother’s love. Like them, at this time I feel the same physical and spiritual pain they feel, at the loss of a giver of our life’s blood. But truly as time heals we can be at peace realising that for Mum the best is still to come. A true princess receives her crown of glory and a body that will never grow tired or weak, having every tear wiped away and basking in the glory of her precious Saviour. These aren’t mere platitudes but a kingdom reality. Mum is truly a pearl of great price in the crown of the King of Kings. Mum, I can’t pay a tribute to you that would ever make me feel satisfied that I had said enough. You know the things I have stored in my heart from you and I look forward to the family party that you and Jesus are preparing on the day that I see you again. I love you Mum. All my love, Colin.