one to one: Lessons about life, ministry, and grandkids

by Keith Burden, Executive Secretary, National Association of Free Will Baptists

The Ornament

The year 2000 was a difficult year. My mom had been suffering from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s for almost four years. We watched her go from a healthy, energetic woman to a 94-pound shell of a person. She lost the ability to recognize her family. She was bedfast and unable to talk. In June, God mercifully ended her suffering and ushered her into His presence.

In December, I received in the mail a small, golden angel ornament with her name engraved on it. It was a gift from the hospice group who helped care for her during her final days. That ornament was placed on our Christmas tree in loving memory of my mother.

I recall sitting in our living room one evening that December, admiring our beautifully decorated tree. My eyes scanned the various ornaments on the branches, pausing momentarily to reflect on each one’s unique, special significance of Christmases past.

Suddenly, a glistening shimmer of light caught my attention, and my gaze became fixed on Mom’s little angel ornament. In that instant, boyhood memories flooded my mind. I remembered those Christmas mornings when my younger brother and I would excitedly open our gifts. I recalled the warm embrace of family members as we gathered for the holidays. I reminisced about those festive meals we enjoyed around my mother’s table. I reflected on those special times of worship as we gathered with our church family to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I was overwhelmed with emotion and began to weep as it dawned on me that this would be my first Christmas without my mom. She nurtured me as a child and set an example I could follow. Her influence and prayers played a major role in my decision to accept Christ as my Savior. Throughout my ministry, she was one of my biggest fans and staunchest supporters.

Although Mom has been gone for more than 14 years, I still cherish those lingering Christmas memories. They are responsible, in large part, for the traditions we established and continue to perpetuate with our children and grandchildren. The only way it could be better is if Mom were here to enjoy them with us.

What kind of Christmas legacy will I leave behind? Hopefully, it will be one that reminds my family and others that I knew the real meaning of Christmas. I want my life to have a lasting spiritual impact on those who mean the most to me.

To me, my mom is more than an angel ornament on our tree. She’s what the writer of Proverbs 4:9a called an “ornament of grace,” and I proudly treasure it in my heart. Merry Christmas, Mom! You were an angel to me.

About the Column

One to One is a regular feature of ONE Magazine. Written by Keith Burden, executive secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, the column explores life, ministry...and the joys of grandchildren.