Gladys Davis

Psalm 90:16 “Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

My mom grew up mostly on a farm and was poor. She was one of 9 children. I have no idea where she met my dad, but they married after he returned from serving in the Aleutian islands during world war 2.

She worked her whole adult life in a factory job to help support the family. My father did not make much money as the pastor of a small church in Los Angeles.

Both of them worked hard at loving and serving people. I never heard her complain about the extra efforts it took to minister to the people of the church over and above her job.

When he left church pastoring, and, took up a market place job, they both gave themselves to weekends serving small churches on the outskirts of Los Angeles who could not afford full time pastors. They did this for more than 20 years as I recall.

Together they supported Patti and me when we entered into full time ministry to churches. Many a time they held down our home when Patti and I traveled another place in the world!

She was faithful in serving my dad when he came down with Parkinson’s disease. And, when he had to be put into a nursing home for the last few years she was at his side seven days a week, all day. She didn’t drive, so she took a bus everyday to be with him

When he died we begin to see a different woman. Never did her faith diminish. But, without my dad, her faith grew in ways that were special to her aloneness.

Alone, she continued to serve our family. Until the end, you could count on her to be available for just about anything that was necessary. She loved the women out of prison who lived with us as well.

What do I want you to learn from my mom.

1. If and when the time comes, aloneness does not need overwhelm you. God will be your provider and partner.

2. Serving others is why we exist. The Gospel is most seen in how we treat others.

When I think of my mom, I think of this song.

https://youtu.be/F2tKVqZZiI4