Sue Young Jones was born into a large farming family in
Lisbon, LA. She grew up poor but says
they did not know it because they had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a house
to live in. Mom was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was seven. The diagnosis was difficult and the prognosis
was grim. Few diabetics lived beyond
their twenties in that day. Life
expectancy was short and expectations of families and career were low.
So part of the reason I think my mom is the best is because
of all the things that are that were not expected to be.
My mom decided to head off to college in spite of the fears
it caused for those that loved her. She
majored in home economics on a scholarship she earned raising prize cows. She supplemented the scholarship by selling
those prize cows as she went. Mom graduated early….with honors.
One day during college, mom was in a group at a card game
with a quiet shy guy that sat at the table for a couple of hours without saying
a word. Mom leaned over, put her finger
over her lips, and said, “Shhh, you’re talking too much.” Not sure what mom awakened in that young man
but now it’s hard to get him to shut up.
Mom and Dad started a family that she was never supposed to
expect and this past April they celebrated 46 years of marriage. The woman that was told not to have children
had three kids who have been married for 21 years, 19 years and 14 years and
have given her 9 grandchildren.
On the morning of the wedding day, Dad checked mom out of
the hospital. She had been in the
hospital for a week after what was probably the worst diabetic episode of her
life. Dad was taking care of her that day
just like he is today. Their marriage is
a beautiful picture of what God intended.
They bear each other’s burdens not as if they are burdens in their life,
but the blessings of their life.
Mom became a middle school English teacher in Caddo Parish
during the days of integration where she was the first and only white teacher
in an all black school. One of her
students there was an over-aged tall young 8th grade boy that could
not read. He wanted to read so mom and
he worked hard. One day he found her in
the hall, pulled out a first grade primer, and read it. Then he grinned big and said, “Thanks, I can
read.”
Mom believes in the power of reading and writing to change a
person’s life. She taught junior high
English because she if a kid that grasped the importance of reading and writing
it would change their future. She
started a Reading Enrichment program at Ruston Junior High. It was a reading and writing elective that
served to spur kids forward in this skill so integral to their future
success. Mom’s favorite student was
always the kid from the illiterate or under-educated home that was working hard
to get ahead. She loved fanning the
flame of such potential into a roaring fire through the power of written
words. Mom was told not expected to have
a career, but she taught for 25 years and impacted for positive the lives of
1000’s.
She also loves teaching others about Jesus. Mom has a great reputation as a teacher of
Scripture. She has a vast knowledge of
the Bible and her Scripture memory is amazing.
She has taught Sunday School and Discipleship training and most recently
did a mentoring program for younger ladies called Apples of Gold. In this program she not only taught the Bible
but she taught cooking and hosting. The
husbands of these women have always been grateful. I am not sure if it was more for the spiritual
or culinary, but they were grateful all the same.
Diabetes has indeed caused some difficulties. She had to retire earlier than she planned
after a heart attack. She had to quit
sewing and playing the piano because of arthritis. She broke a leg that took a 1 ½ years to
heal. She lost her peripheral vision and
had to quit driving many years ago.
The reality of what she was told about her future is not
something she can stop. Truth is she
prayed many times for healing as a child.
She came to grips that this was the thorn in her flesh intended for the
glory of the Lord. So mom decided to
live her life.
The realities of a childhood disease formed in her a view of
life few have. Mom has always lived her
life focused on what was instead of what was not. She has enjoyed what she has instead of
worrying about what she does not have.
As I, and others, worry about what lies ahead. She does not.
As Proverbs 31 says, “she laughs at the days ahead.” She is so grateful for what is she cannot
worry about what might not be, but most importantly she is certain in what is
to come.
So that is why I think my mom is the best.
Mom,
Thanks for loving Jesus and teaching others to love
him. Thanks for teaching kids not just
reading but succeeding. Thanks for being
brave and not bitter. Thanks for being
grateful instead of fearful.
Thanks for loving Dad.
Thanks for loving Denise and Rachel.
Thanks for loving Wendy. Thanks
for loving Daniel, Melanie, Kara, and all your grandchildren. And thanks for loving me.
I love you. You’re
the best. And Happy Birthday!
