Call Yer Mom!
Call Yer Mom!
My cousin Pastor Clayton Brown and I sat in the quaint little Italian restaurant across from Bro. Paul Price in Napa, California. It was an honor for us to have supper with such a respected Pentecostal leader. He had been a dear friend of my family and my wife’s family over the years.
“I hear that you call your mother every day. Is that true?”
Those were his first words that evening as we sat down to eat. I was taken by surprise.
“I do my best to call her every day. Sometimes we have a problem connecting because I’m in a bad area or something.”
“Yes but you do try?” He pushed the subject. But now I noticed his eyes were beginning to brim with tears.
“Absolutely!”
The tears still made me wonder why this subject brought emotion so close to the surface for him.
“I’m proud of you for that. I wished more sons would call their widowed mothers.
“I just got off the phone talking to a man about that. I had to bawl him out for neglecting to call his widowed mother. She had no one to check on her. She was desperate to hear his voice. He said he was busy. I can’t tell you how much that upset me.
“Do you know that the Bible has much to say about the treatment of widows? There are curses on those that mistreat and neglect them. God hates them that do.”
The air was not completely out of Bro. Price’s sail yet on the subject, but we were interrupted by the waiter. Although we never continued the subject, I never forgot it.
I didn’t want to know who the person was, but I was glad it wasn’t me and that I had tried to call my Mom as often as I could. I also didn’t know who’d told on me, but I was glad I got caught doing something good for once.
Although my own Mom does very good for 88 years, there are many moments when I wish her short term memory was better. I may have to remind her a time or two within a single phone call where I’m preaching a revival or if my wife is with me or at our house.
It doesn’t matter whether she can remember tomorrow that I called her today or not. I remember. Right now that’s what matters to me.
I’ve pray my children keep close tabs on my beloved wife when I’m gone.
Oh, and here’s a bit of unasked for advice for the rest of you… ‘Call yer Mom!’
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 
VERYY GOOD AND NEEDED ADVICE,…THANK YOU!!!
CARLA THOMAS
May 14, 2010 at 7:33 am
Thank you for calling mom every day. She looks forward to hearing your voice. It’s not the amount of time spent talking, but just to know you thought of her. I wish you could see her smile after she hangs up.
Nila Marxer
May 14, 2010 at 7:38 am
I love this! Your mother has been an icon in the Apostolic Pentecostal movement. I have a beautiful daughter-in-law because your mother years ago said, “God will give you what you want”. She wanted a preacher and later she met and married my son!
My mother hated Pentecostalism with a passion. I still contacted her almost every day and when we were close enough I took her to eat almost every day.
After 40 years of preaching and praying we baptized my mother in Jesus name and she prayed through 4 months before her demise! Moral of storry….Call and stay in contact with your mother – it could be a life-line! Don’t forget “dad” too.
Dr. John Scheel
May 14, 2010 at 9:18 am
What a powerful truth and beautiful story. I love happy endings.
Many thanks my friend.
I love you. Blessings!
MJB
mballestero
May 14, 2010 at 10:53 am
When my mother was alive I did my best to call her on Sat. afternoon. The main problem with this is mother loved the, “Corn Huskers,” football. She would talk to you just long enought to be sure which son she was talking to and then, “Mervi I’ll call you right back,” as soon as the game was over.
I deeply miss being able to hear her voice saying those words!
Mervi
Mervi
May 14, 2010 at 11:12 am
My friend, I enjoyed your blog very much. I felt it to be very important for her for me to call frequently, but after her death a few years ago I realized it was equally important for me to hear her voice. Even in her most confused and weakened moment she always inspired me by her love and devotion for her 9 children.
Oh, how I wish I could call her again…..
Gerald Adams
May 14, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Thank you so much for sharing. I have sat at the feet of Elder Price a time or two and those moments are so precious.
Both my widowed mother and mother in law live with us. I am so thankful for the opportunity to care for and watch over them. I have been blessed…
God Bless.
Don Doran
Don Doran
May 14, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I guess FB is a close second. I keep up with what my family is doing. Marty thank you, you are a very thoughtful son(by law). Your family look to you for comfort and guidance. Good article.
Marian June Davis
May 14, 2010 at 11:02 pm