A Eulogy for My Mom

Carolyn Mae Tweiten was born on March 28, 1946. She was the second of five children who grew up in a carpenter’s family in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1963 at the age of 17, Carolyn married Richard Post and gave birth to me the following year. My sister Tanya followed a couple of years later. Because Mom loved animals, there were often one or two dogs plus an occasional cat in the household. She was also a teddy bear fanatic. That made it easy to pick out gifts for Christmas and her birthday.

Carolyn had grown up with a violent alcoholic father. Therefore, she did her best to make sure Tanya and I had a stable environment at home. Mom often played along with various games my sister and me did. A few Saturday mornings, we played school with me being the teacher. Occasionally Mom would knock on my bedroom door saying Tanya needed to be “excused from class” so she could clean her room or do something else.

As we got older, Mom worked outside the house more. One of her jobs was a sales representative for a candy company. Tanya and I got to enjoy a lot of free samples. Another thing I appreciated about my mother was her sense of humor. Whenever Tanya and I did something naughty but wouldn’t fess up, Mom sarcastically declared, “Ol’ Tom is at it again!” (Tom was my imaginary twin brother.) A few years ago while finishing a phone conversation, I told Mom I would “keep her posted” on my happenings. She replied, “Don’t take our name in vain.”

I wasn’t fond of the traditional Lutheran church we attended when my sister and I were little. Still, my mother made sure we said our prayers before going to sleep. If there was a thunderstorm outside, Mom told us God’s angels were bowling (the loudest claps of thunder meant they got a strike). She happened to be an avid bowler and watched the "Pro Bowler's Tour" on TV.

Football was another sport my mother enjoyed. We spent many Sundays watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Mom got more emotional about the games than I did. She would jump off the couch and yell at the players while nearly knocking me over in the process. 

Like with my father, Mom and I had spiritual differences after I became born again. She had started watching Dr. Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” on TV and gradually drifted into New Age beliefs. Then in the fall of 2012, Mom had a stroke and was moved into an assisted living facility. A few weeks later I returned to Fargo for the holidays. One afternoon (which happened to be “doomsday”), I stopped to see Mom. After we talked for a while, she let me lay hands on her to receive healing. Then I asked if I could lead her in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She agreed and prayed the sinner’s prayer with me.

Mom’s health slightly improved but still remained in hospice for the rest of her life. The last time I saw my mother, I wanted to entertain her somehow. I got out my smartphone and on YouTube played an old comedy routine by Jack Webb and Johnny Carson that we watched years before on “The Tonight Show.” Mom really enjoyed that.

When my dad passed away last month, I perceived Mom would soon do the same (“January” kept coming up in my spirit). Yesterday I was informed she had gone home to be with the Lord. Carolyn Post was 71.

It’s not easy when a close relative dies. However, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and experience supernatural peace especially if our deceased loved ones were saved. Someday we will be reunited at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. So in the meantime, keep praying and sharing God's love if you still have lost family members.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

- Acts 16:31

M. O. M. (Memories of Mother)

 Thanksgiving 2008

In these last days, Satan is trying to pervert gender distinctions. Currently the media is flooded with reports of men “identifying as women” fighting for the right to use women’s bathrooms (and vice versa). For the past ten years, Spain has issued birth certificates replacing “Father” and “Mother” with “Progenitor A” and “Progenitor B.” No matter how the world tries to redefine the family unit, children cannot be born without a mother. 

On this Mother’s Day, I want to honor the woman who brought me into this world 52 years ago in Fargo, North Dakota. Growing up in the bordering city of Moorhead, Minnesota, I wasn’t fond of the traditional church we attended as a family. Still my mother made sure my sister and I said our prayers before going to sleep. If there was a thunderstorm outside, Mom told us God’s angels were bowling (the loudest claps of thunder meant they got a strike). She happened to be an avid bowler.

Football is another sport my mother enjoys. We've spent many Sundays watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Mom often got more emotional about the games than I did. She would jump off the couch and yell at the players while nearly knocking me over in the process. 

Back in the day my mother was a homemaker and often cooked meals for us. As my sister and I got older, Mom worked outside the house more. One of her jobs was a sales representative for a major candy company. As a result we got to enjoy a lot of free samples.

Another thing I appreciate about my mother is her sense of humor. Whenever my sister and I did something naughty but wouldn’t fess up, Mom sarcastically declared, “Ol’ Tom is at it again!” (Tom was my imaginary twin brother.) A few years ago while finishing a phone conversation, I told Mom I would “keep her posted” on my happenings. She replied, “Don’t take our name in vain.”

Even if your mother hasn’t exactly been a Proverbs 31 woman, I exhort you to be a blessing to her. Proverbs 23:22 says, “…do not despise your mother when she is old.” If she’s still living but you cannot see her in person today, how about giving her a call to let her know how much she is loved? I’m sure she would appreciate that.

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” - Ephesians 6:2-3

Modern Motherhood

Singer/actress Jessica Simpson gave birth to a daughter a few days ago.  There was some media controversy about her child being named Maxwell, which sounds more like a man’s name.  But what’s really disturbing is how children born out of wedlock are celebrated so much these days.  (Jessica is engaged to the baby’s father but decided to postpone getting married until after the baby was born.)  A couple of generations ago, illegitimate births by Hollywood celebrities were considered scandalous.

Before the birth of Maxwell, Jessica Simpson appeared nude on the cover of Elle magazine displaying her baby bump (à la Demi Moore).  The Huffington Post praised Jessica for being an example of “modern motherhood.”  This is a sign of the times we live in.  Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Jessica was raised by a Baptist youth minister and originally pursued a Christian music career but later turned toward the secular market.  In 2003, she released a single called “The Sweetest Sin.”  Although Jessica was married at the time to her then-husband Nick Lachey (and even announced she remained a virgin until her wedding), one of the song's lyrics proclaims, “It would feel so good to be so bad.”  Proverbs 14:9 says, “Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”

Two years later, Jessica portrayed a very sexualized image in her music video “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.”  In response to criticism she received, Jessica stated, “It didn't really surprise me because I grew up with a lot of that backlash.  That's why I didn't end up going into the Christian music industry.  I think that if they're really good Christians the judgment wouldn't be there.”

I don’t mean to be judgmental of Jessica but God expects His people to live holy lives regardless of their occupation.  Other celebrities like Tim Tebow and Kirk Cameron have maintained a Christian witness despite public pressure and scrutiny.  I pray that Jessica will start doing the same.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13