My Mom is 100% Italian! The oldest of three kids. She grew up in Hoboken, NJ and met my Dad at Erskine Lake in Ringwood, NJ where both of their families had summer homes. My parents married in 1958 and for the first15 years they lived in NJ. They were blessed (well, I think they were) with 3 children...My Sister Paula, myself and my brother Mike. We were first raised Catholic and my Mom instilled in us the importance of attending church. She also, along with my Dad showed us the importance of family and always getting along as well as always working things out. To this day, we are all still close in spite of me being the lone New York survivor. My family all reside in PA. Maybe one day I will be able to say the same thing.
As a shy, insecure kid, I can say that my Mom was always there for me. On those nights when I couldn't sleep or was worried about something a school, my Mom would always sit and listen to me and always tell me "Everything is going to be alright." She always made the time for me! In 1973, our family moved to Long Island from Chatham, NJ. My siblings and I were not happy but we did had to move! My Dad worked at RCA in NJ and got a new job in Hicksville, NY. It was a season of adjusting for all of us. What always impressed me about my Mom was how she always remained positive. When I was in 6th grade and ironically on April Fools Day, my Dad came home and told us he was laid off from his job. My Mom thought it was a joke but it was true. For quite some time we lived off of my Mom's Part Time salary as a secretary as well as my Dad's unemployment check. Again it was another rough season and I'm sure there were times my Mom wanted to "throw in the towel." She never quit! My Dad did get a job back in NJ and we were looking to move back to the Garden State but God had other plans. My Dad absolutely hated his new job and the Lord supplied a great job for him on Long Island! Because of those challenging months my Dad was unemployed, my Mom discovered a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our neighbor brought her to a Catholic/ Charismatic prayer meeting. Her life was changed and right before my eyes I witnessed her growth in the Lord. This lead to the rest of our family accepting Jesus into our hearts. My Mom lead me to the Lord on December 6, 1977!
During my teenage and young adult years, my greatest memory of my Mom was our late night talks. I get my creative gift from my Mom but I also got her "night owl" gift. We used to sit up and talk for hours! After I had a date, after I worked a second job or after a church event, we used to talk. My Mom allowed me to share my dreams, my goals and I ran many of my ideas by her! I was hired by Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle as their Children's Pastor in 1991 and many of you might not know this but for the first 7 years of my ministry, my secretary was my Mom! It was a good thing too because she was the only person on this planet who could read my handwriting. The pastors didn't have computers s everything I wrote was on legal pad. My Mom typed many of my crazy idea puppet skits! In 1992, our family went through another rough season as my Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. We were all devastated but we trusted God. My Mom was truly the glue that held us together. One thing that did make us happy was that my Dad was able to experience being a Grandfather four times. I will have to say that during that season my Mom stayed close to the Lord. The Lord took my Father home on June 18, 1995...Father's Day. The strongest person at the funeral was not yours truly, it was my Mom!
1998 my Mom told me she was selling our home and moving to PA. I was devastated but I understood. She purchased a condo she still lives in and lives close to my brother, my sister and their families. I do look forward to visiting her in spite of the wonderful New York traffic! Let me fast forward 15 years later to 2013. I will have to say that on my traumatic season of resigning from Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, the one person who stood by me through thick and thin was my Mom. I called my Mom at all hours. When I felt depressed I called her. When I felt alone I called her. My Mom never ever said to me "Leave me alone" or "Now what!" She always listened to me and she still does. The main things she always told me was "Stay close to the Lord, Dave" and "God is going to use this, you will see."
Mom, thank you so much for always being there for me. You have always inspired me and I am forever grateful for you! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!
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