She Was My Sister Before She Was My Mother

Mother’s Day has never fit neatly into a box for me.

Because my mother… was first my sister.

At just twenty-eight years old, while still reeling from the loss of our parents, she made a decision that would alter the course of both our lives. In a season when grief could have completely shut her down—after all, she had two children of her own by then, and one on the way—she stepped up instead. She adopted her two youngest siblings, ages three and six.

Scripture tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1:27).

My new mother and father lived this mandate. There was nothing easy about their choice.

Show Up

One of the best gifts she gave us was showing up. We could count on her being there for us. We were her life’s work. In the steady rhythm of what some might consider ordinary or even “boring” days, we found space for healing and stability. And stability releases ability.

Mom loves to sing. Our family rarely traveled far from home, but twice a week we went to church—once for choir practice and again on Sundays. My parents served in the church in various ways. This lifestyle allowed for our spiritual growth.

I recently wrote about the four cardinal (hinge) virtues. My mother embodies these virtues:
• She leads a prudent life. Common sense was her buzzword.
• She exhibits temperance (two cookies per day, for example).
• She taught us to be just—to be fair, tell the truth, and keep promises.
• She exhibits fortitude. She stands strong under pressure.

A Modern-Day Matriarch

A matriarch is a respected elder woman in a family. She is a figure of wisdom, stability, and tradition. She leaves a legacy worthy of being passed down through the generations. My mother, Sally, is leaving a legacy of faith: love in action.

I dedicated my first novel, Jane’s Secret, to her. Her life is a testimony of obedience, sacrifice, and a love that reflects Christ.

“This book is dedicated to my mother, sister, and friend, Sally (Tirrell/Fay) Dibble, who is a true matriarch in all the best ways—especially in leading us by example to Jesus Christ.”

This Mother’s Day, I honor the woman who stepped into a role she did not ask for and fulfilled it with grace that could only have come from the Lord.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you!

~Jenny