Many of you are familiar with our guest today since she was once a blogger here. JoAnn Durgin is a dear friend of mine that is always there for me, and I appreciate her so much! This week I am out of town so she is pinch hitting for me today. She would like you to know that she giving away one copy of either If You Believe or Love on Assignment in Millcreek to one person who answers the question at the end of this post. Without further adieu I turn this over to JoAnn.
I
n late July of this past year, I wrote the most difficult piece of writing I’ve ever done—the eulogy for my 87-year-old mother. Yet it was also my greatest labor of love.
While wanting to pay tribute to an inspiring woman from the unique perspective of being her only daughter, I wanted to offer a glimpse of a young, divorced mom who was raising two small children in an era when it wasn’t commonplace. A woman who sometimes wore a black leather jacket, fire engine red lipstick, and big black sunglasses. Not that she was rebellious, but she could certainly be independent, feisty, and speak her mind. She wasn’t perfect, but she did the best she could, and that was more than enough. If you earned her loyalty, you had it forever. If you earned her love, it was unwavering and steadfast.
When she once needed a new car, Mama took me with her to a dealership that advertised “Nobody walks away.” The salesman who waited on her suggested she come back with her husband. All of five feet tall, she proudly rose to her feet and squared her shoulders. “Nobody walks away? Watch this!” Taking me by the hand, head held high, she marched out of the showroom. Then drove straight to another dealership where she plunked down cash for a shiny new vehicle.
Mama was blessed enough not to have to work, but she taught kindergarten for 11 years and invested herself in her “children.” She also worked as a part-time travel agent. No doubt, she inspired many of my book heroines. Every summer, she took my brother and I on car trips. With the windows rolled down, she’d belt out theme songs from musicals at the top of her lungs. She adored covered bridges, and we traveled over many a country road to find and photograph them.
A fun and adventurous traveling companion, my mother took me to Europe several times and on my first Caribbean cruise. She also sent me to London to study for a semester (and came to visit me over Easter). She did these things because she could and wanted me to glimpse the world with its diverse people and cultures. The Lord knew her generosity would help me become the writer I am today. Later on, she visited the Holy Land, Egypt, Russia, Europe, Hawaii, and Alaska. Even after turning 60, she went whitewater rafting and parasailing!
Author JoAnn Durgin
One of her favorite things of all was to walk on a beach and collect seashells. Last September, I strolled the beach in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, shortly after Hurricane Dorian. Although the area escaped significant damage, most of the shells were broken. Halfway buried in the same, I dug out a beautifully preserved “olive” shell—shiny, intact, and one she would have called a “treasure.” I carry it with me every day as a constant reminder of how blessed I was to have her as my mom. The best thing is my hope and assurance that I’ll see her again one day on those celestial shores!
Mama loved Jesus and made Him part of her life, digging deep into God’s Word. She often gave devotionals to local groups, digging deep into her research and opening the eyes of her audience to topics such as human trafficking and the need for clean water in impoverished areas of the globe. She was a leader and the most organized person I’ve ever met.
My mother was also a lifelong voracious reader and faithfully kept a journal where she faithfully detailed her thoughts, her life. One of my recent releases, If You Believe, is lovingly dedicated to her, and the following words are the last ones she ever read.
For Mama~
You taught me by example to love words—
the wonderful images they create
and the senses they evoke—bringing
sight, touch, smell, hearing, and tasting
into glorious, vivid being.
I grew to love the way words roll off the tongue,
the way they sound.
How, when paired with other words,
words can bring new worlds to life.
You opened my mind to embrace ideas
and encouraged me to dream.
You gave me wings and
taught me to fly on my own.
You modeled strength, character, and
grace with dignity.
You showed me I could do nothing on my own
without Christ in my heart.
I’m doing my best to follow your example
and pray I’ll always make you proud.
Thank you for giving me life and
demonstrating how to live fully, confidently,
and passionately.
For that and so much more…
I love you now,
I love you always.
~JoAnn
Learn more about JoAnn on her website.
To be entered for a chance to win an ebook copy of either Love on Assignment in Millcreek or If you Believe be sure to answer the question below. (Void where prohibited by law. Open to US readers only.)
Which person in your life could inspire a wonderful fictional character? Please share what makes them so special!
*Some of the foregoing content was originally published on the Seriously Write blog in August of 2019.
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
How nice to read from JoAnn again Always writing good books and making us think about hard moments in life.
I think my grandmother would be a great character for a novel. Her parents emigrated from Germany right before the war and she only learned Portuguese (oficial language in Brazil) after the German-Christian school that she went to close their doors. So she was forced from one day to another to change her life. I’m pretty sure that was around middle school. She became a very elegant woman who many envied until her death (way too soon in her 70’s). That was only accomplished by working in a time when women didn’t work (First in her father dealership then as her husband’s secretary (he went to college three times until settling down as a family lawyer) and being involved in many social interactions. Even after her death I’ve heard many people still remembered her as an example os elegance. My mom said she was also very reserved and let very few people get close to her until I was born (then my sister). As the only grandchildren for 15 years, she dis everything she could to make us feel loved and care. Some of my best winter break and summer memories are from being shipped to spend time with her. She’d do anything for us with a smile on her face. Even tell me I couldn’t get in the house without proper cleaning my feet after playing beach volleyball for the entire day. Grandma was tough love but always love. I believe she was an emotionally deep woman who let very few people get close. Family gatherings were never the same after she was gone.
Hi JoAnn, how very lovely to hear from you:) Thank you for sharing about your Mum, she sounds wonderful- I am glad you will have forever with her.
My godfather would make a wonderful book character- he is a hardworking farmer, who makes time for his family, who serves his community and loves the Lord. When my mum remarried and moved us to a new state, my godfather wrote me letters- handwritten, sent in the mail letters, of encouragement and telling me that he believed in me. I still have these letters and treasure the godly man who took the time out to write them. I am blessed to still have he and my god mum in my life- your post is a good reminder to tell them how much I value them!
Blessings:)
My sister could make a wonderful character. She has been through a lot but you would never know it. She had breast cancer when she was 35 and had two very young children. She worked full time while going through her 9 months of chemo and radiation. In her late 40’s she was diagnosed with MS. She walks every day because she knows that some day she may not be able to. She takes each day as a gift . She just found out she has osteoporosis. No matter what life gives her it is never going to get the best of her because of her attitude and her faith. I am so glad I can call her my sister, my friend.
Hi Joann,
My sister could make a wonderful character. She has been through a lot but you would never know it. She had breast cancer when she was 35 and had two very young children. She worked full time while going through her 9 months of chemo and radiation. In her late 40’s she was diagnosed with MS. She walks every day because she knows that some day she may not be able to. She takes each day as a gift . She just found out she has osteoporosis. No matter what life gives her it is never going to get the best of her because of her attitude and her faith. I am so glad I can call her my sister, my friend.
Hi JoAnn. Thanks for sharing your mother’s story. In 2020 my mother would celebrate her 100th birthday. Since her passing 2007, I have been writing pieces of her story; especially after finding her diary while getting ready to sell my parent’s home in 2014. My mother’s faith in God, her determination to survive under harsh conditions, her positive outlook on life regardless of the situation and her love for her family makes for a great story. My mom at age 25 survived the Russian bombing of Kalingrad in a Polar Vortex, then she survived on 1200 calories a day during the Berlin Airlift of 1948, early 1950s she survived the loss of her first born son and had multiple surgeries, and in 1955 our family immigrated to the United States to learn a new language, new culture, and new way of life. We were separated from family by an ocean and ideology. Then there is the love story on my parents, who met on a train. Post WW2 Germany, my dad proposed in a letter which contained the ring, which my mom promptly sent back. Both mothers finally got the couple together. Best wishes.
Hi Priscila! Thanks for sharing. While living in Chicago, I met several Germans, who had immigrated to South America after WW2, before they immigrated to the United States. Best wishes.
JoAnn, what a lovely tribute to your mother. She sounds amazing! May God comfort you in your loss.
Hugs,
Sally Bayless
Priscila, your grandmother sounds like a wonderfully complex and fascinating woman! I agree she’d make a great fictional character. My grandmother lived with us, and she, too, always made us take off our shoes when we came into the house. My brother and I used to rebel at that mandate, but now I fully understand it–it’s the only way to keep the carpets clean with kids in the house! I had to smile when you said I write books that make you think about hard moments in life. My writing can be sentimental, yes, but isn’t that what life is? It’s those times of loss and hardship that help us grow in our faith and compassion for others, but that’s why I also include humor. We certainly need to laugh and embrace the moments of happiness. Thanks for commenting and blessings to you and your family.
What a fascinating and heartfelt read! Trying to think about a person in my life who would inspire a character…I’m going to choose my 16-year-old daughter. As one who miraculously entered this world & continued to thrive in spite of a father who chose not to be a part of her life, she amazes me. I am often inspired by her spiritual depth & understanding. People often gravitate towards her even more than me. She is adored by so many and yet she remains humble & grounded. She is a reminder of all that is good in this world. Thoroughly modern & yet committed to God.
Hi Wemble! Your godfather sounds like a wonderful man and indeed the basis for a great character. Farming isn’t for the faint of heart in and of itself, and the letters…oh my…yes, you should treasure those! I used to say about my husband that he couldn’t write a postcard to anyone (from vacation) to save his life, but before we married and hit a bump in our relationship, he went to Europe with a seminary singing group and wrote NOVELS to me on those postcards. :) One of my biggest regrets in life is throwing them away at the time (because I was still irritated with him, but I wish I had them now to reread from time to time). But alas… You are blessed to have them in your life and telling them is always a good thing! Great to hear from you and thanks for commenting.
Hi Lori, and thanks so much for your comment! Your sister sounds like a true inspiration. I often find those that have faced such daunting challenges are the ones who encourage everyone around them. They have a unique perspective and faith that radiates to all those around them. Unfortunately, she’s learned the hard way that each day IS a gift, but it no doubt only reinforces her strong faith. How wonderful to have a hope that extends beyond the challenges of this life! I’m thankful you have your sister and can cherish one another. Blessings to you.
Hi Renate. Your mother certainly lived a long and wonderful life! I’m thankful you have her diary–what a find to give you even more insights into her personal thoughts and observations. I imagine reading her story in HER words also helps to keep you even more closely connected with her. Her life sounds fascinating and definitely would be the basis for a great character in a book (or movie!) since it has all the elements a great story should. I’m glad you’re writing down pieces of her story! Blessings, and thanks for the comment.
Hi Sally! I saw you were here on Inspy Romance now, and it’s always wonderful to “see” you. I know my mother is no longer in pain and is in a much more wonderful place than our finite minds can even imagine. That’s what gives me the most comfort in the midst of those moments when we feel her absence. Thank you for your sweet words and blessings to you in all your writing pursuits!
Hi Ruth! So wonderful to see you here on Inspy Romance. :) Your daughter indeed sounds amazing. At only 16, I can only imagine what she might accomplish in her lifetime! I pray she’ll always stay humble and grounded, but with a supportive and loving mother in you and her heavenly Father’s guidance, she’ll continue to grow into the woman of God that He already knows she’ll become one day. Thanks so much for sharing and blessings to you both!
Wonderful post! My Mom inspires me because she chooses to trust God in her life and she is always so kind and patient even when I don’t deserve it.
Thanks, Megan! “Even when I don’t deserve it…” What a beautiful portrait of God’s grace. You are blessed to have such a wonderful mother, as you well know. Thank you for sharing and I appreciate the comment! Blessings.
I would have to say my Mom, who’s still going at 95! She’s slowed down some due to age-related macular degeneration and hearing loss, but she still loves to make cards, crochet, and do other crafts. Daddy passed away 23 and a half years ago, and though she lost him, she knew God would take care of her, and He has. She’s relied on Him every step of the way. I’m thankful that I can be here with her as her caregiver. She’s showing me how to age gracefully.
Hi Trudy, and thanks for chiming in! I’m so thankful you’ve been blessed with a godly mother…and still going strong at 95…wow! That’s great that she doesn’t allow her challenges to stop her from doing what she loves. Learning to rely on the Lord is hard for many people, but I’m sure she also appreciates your many efforts on her behalf. What a beautiful statement of a daughter’s love to say she’s showing you how to age gracefully! May God richly bless you both.
I think some of mum’s experiences would be good in a book. She was born in 1919 and survived the depression. Its when she learnt to hate pumpkin as it was a vegetable that grew well and there was an abundance, they would eat it in every way possible, soup, roasted, mashed etc and often twice a day, I read a book set in the depression in Canada and they had lots of one vegetable then too. Then she lived through the war moving to the city working in a shirt factory where at one stage they made soldiers shirts and would put there addresses in the lining. (No she never heard from one but it would be a great story). She was part of a church in the inner suburbs with lots of kids with parents working in factories and help start a kids club on Sunday night before the evening service for these street kids. (She said some were the dirtiest, smelliest kids you would ever see but they soaked up the messages and the love and hugs, they didn’t wear there Sunday best knowing they would be spending time with the kids).
So many of the stories of what they did were interesting and would make good stories in a historical romance set in that era. Even the story about how she became a Christian. The king asked everyone to pray when the war was looking bad and she and a friend flipped a coin to decided which church to go to. She felt so at peace in the church that she kept going. She wasn’t judged for being the daughter of a racehorse trainer or for being the daughter of an alcoholic she was accepted and loved for being herself.
What fabulous stories of your mum, Ausjenny! Thank you for sharing them and a bit of your heart, as well. You’ve opened my eyes to things of which I had no knowledge whatsoever, and I appreciate it very much. She sounds like a wonderful person, and you were incredibly blessed to have her as an inspiration in your life. Thank you again for sharing her with us and stopping by Inspy Romance today!
Hello dear friend ❤️
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post with us!
I’m thinking about my grandma 👵 her life was so hard but her faith was stronger!
Blessings!!!
Hi Natalya! Sounds like your grandmother was certainly an inspiration for you. I’m sorry it was hard for her, but facing adversity is often what strengthens our faith. Thank you for the comment and for your faithfulness in reading my books and personal encouragement. Blessings.
My mother-in-law would be my choice for an inspirational character! As a teen, she began as a church organist. She has retired THREE TIMES from her church as organist, but is still playing at the church! Since her husband died, she has become a missionary of sort. She has a heart for working with Hispanic illegal immigrants in our community. She began a tutoring program for the children . Then she started weekly times with the ladies to teach a craft, have sewing lessons, or makes laundry soap for the co-op pantry. She’s even trained one of the ladies to lead a Bible study each week. She volunteers every week at the co-op to pray with those coming in for assistance. AND, she is nurturing her brother (a widow of 5 years) and her niece who has cancer. My MIL is an amazing woman – and she is 87!
Amy, your mother-in-law sounds incredible! I love the purity of her heart as she serves the Lord by helping others. As I was reading this, I was reminded of my own mother-in-law. At the age of 84, and in spite of almost crippling arthritis in her hands, she continues to play the organ despite the odds. She, too, is a widow and is very active in her church. Women like that truly are an inspiration. I appreciate the comment, and thank you for sharing with us. Blessings!