Celebrating mothers

This weekend, we celebrate and honor our mothers. Hopefully, we honor them more than once a year, but this is their weekend.

My wife and I are very blessed to still have our mothers, and we will see both of them this weekend.

There is so much I have learned from my mom throughout my 42 years. By observing her life, I have learned about strength, compassion and thoughtfulness.

Galatians 5:22-23 says that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

I see all of that in my mom. My mom and dad taught my brother and sister and me about all of those things when we were young, and we’re still learning from their examples today.

I love and appreciate my mom. She continues to be a great source of strength for our family.

The Rev. Billy Graham said this about his mother: “Of all the people I have ever known, she had the greatest influence on me.”

I can say the same about my mother. Many things she told me years ago still affect my life today. She’s taught me to have compassion for others, not to judge people by how they look and, if you can help someone, help them.

She’s taught me not just with words, but through her actions.

When a friend of mine in high school got kicked out of his house, whose parents opened their home to him? Mine.

When I was a teenager, some of the neighbors put down one of my friends because his parents weren’t active in his life and he was a little “rough around the edges.” My parents always defended him.

By the way, that “troubled” youth is now a physician’s assistant, and he gives my parents a lot of the credit for his success.

When I played soccer as a child, my parents were always at the games. I remember one time when a teammate whose parents couldn’t make it to the game walked up to my mom before a game and asked if she would cheer for him. She cheered louder for him that day than for me. I thought that was cool and it made his day.

As I’ve grown older, she’s always been there for her children and our spouses. Last year we had to be there for her more than ever as she recovered from a bad car accident. Today, we celebrate that she’s healthy and we need a calendar to keep up with her again.

I wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and my wife’s mother, and to all of the moms out there. I hope you all have a special weekend.

Ken Tuck is the managing editor of the Dothan Eagle and regional editor of Media General Alabama Newspapers. He can be reached at or 712-7960.