Who is your role model? Who do you look at as a model worthy of imitation? Who do you admire, respect, look to for guidance, follow as an example?

Teresa and I were driving back to Tennessee from North Carolina, and as we often do, we were going through a list of discussion starters for couples. We had already answered several thought provoking questions when we came to this one: Who do you look at as a role model? My mind immediately went to two persons: my mother, and my sister. Allow me to share with you why I chose these two individuals.

I will begin by talking about my mother. Without a question or doubt, she was an example to be imitated. She was a rather quiet woman, so it was not so much in what she said that led me to choose her as my role model. Rather, it was her quiet strength, her undaunting commitment, her deep desire to provide for her children, unflinching commitment to my father.

My mother lived to the age of 86, and in all those years I never heard her raise her voice, speak a word of profanity, demean my father or my sister, brother, or me. Her willingness to work a physically demanding job in Springs Cotton Mill was a testimony to her total devotion to her family, as she worked this demanding job to provide for the family.

My mother was loved deeply by everyone who had the privilege to know her. I have never heard anyone share a single negative word about her. In the years after my father’s death she maintained a life of commitment to her family and her Lord. Anyone who walked in her back door would be greeted by an open Bible, a Sunday School book, and devotional materials lying on the table. This was her quiet place – her place of talking with her Father in heaven. I was indeed blessed beyond measure to have been reared by this precious saint of God.

My second choice of a role model is my sister, Ada. I must begin by stating that this was not always the case. For many years we were not very close. There were even a few times when we were distanced by differing lifestyles, differing preferences, differing everything. We had very little in common, and only saw each other at family get-togethers.

Ada has experienced many highs and lows through her lifetime. She has been hurt deeply by quite a few individuals, and carries the emotional scars of those hurts. She has faced many battles in life, the latest of which was the death of her daughter, Lisa. This, along with so many other challenges, would be enough to bring even the most valiant and strong to their knees. But Ada has faced them with dignity and strength.

I look at my sister now as a seasoned veteran of war. The battles she has fought have only made her stronger. By the grace of God, and through her commitment to Him, she has been able to face some of life’s most formidable foes victoriously.

Was my mother perfect? Is my sister above making mistakes? No. My mother was, and my sister is, human. Humans are fallen. We all fall woefully short of God’s standard of perfection. But my mother was, and my sister is, a spiritual warrior. Life took its toll on my mother. She suffered many losses during her lifetime. The same is true of Ada. But they were willing to learn from those mistakes, those battles, those difficulties.

I loved my mother, and I love my sister. Ada, each time I have the privilege to see you, I see more and more of Mama in you. I am a blessed man indeed!