TRIBUTES
MOTHER’S DAY HONOR
T
Lady L. Janice Brooks
he sunset years of our existence on this earth have been portrayed as being an idyllic period where because we have attained a certain numeric age, get to sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labor. We are told that this is the time to relax and appreciate all that we have been able to accomplish down through the years. In addition, we are encouraged to do so because many have not made it to this point. There are many who have not been afforded the opportunity to make it to this stage of life, so we ought to be grateful for having been able to do so. But our Mom has. Mom has reached that time in life where she is afforded the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labor. She has earned the right to not only reflect, but to also glow in her accomplishments. Lillie Janice Brooks has given birth to three sons, all of whom are ministers of the Gospel of Christ. She has enjoyed the presence of ten grandchildren, and she has gracefully entered the period of life called the Golden years. And because of these successes, and the many more that we do not have time to recite, we salute her on this day that has been set aside to commemorate our Mothers. These last few years have seen our mother encounter and conquer several challenges, both physical and emotional. Because of the onset of advancing years, Mom can’t get around like she used to. She isn’t quite as nimble as she used to be, and she isn’t quite as independent as she wants (and demands) to be. Her favorite saying to my brothers and me as we try to assist her in various activities is, “You ain’t the boss of me!” And she’s right; we aren’t. But we are her sons, and she and Pop raised us right. We grew up in a strict household where the rules were cut in stone and the phrase, “…because I said so” was meant to be a very sufficient answer to the question of why…and if it wasn’t, there was a belt nearby to convince us of its sufficiency! We grew up in a household where respect and honor for our parents were etched into the very fabric of our souls. We grew up in a household where, because the Bible was taught and preached, “honor thy mother and thy father” was one of the first Scriptures we learned as children. Consequently, we grew up in a household where my father’s singular mantra, which he repeated daily was, “Take care of your mother!” And that is what we do. At any time, Mom can call on any one of the three of us, and we will come running. At any time, a request can be made of the three of us, and we will expend every effort to accommodate our mother. Because that is how we were raised. Lillie Janice Brooks. To the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, she is the First Lady. To us, her children, she is the rock of our family. She is the Queen of our domain. She is the voice of reason and the reflection of Honor. She is our Mother, and we are grateful to have her with us. As she continues to gracefully age, we, her sons, and our wives and our children, will continue to love and care for her. We will continually salute her and all that she is… because…she is our Mother! Happy Mother’s Day! Ted, Harold, & Darrell
