Mother-in-Law Lessons

Our oldest daughter married in 2009. This is Marlene, my mother-in-law, standing in front of the church right before the wedding. Isn't she lovely?

When I first met my husband, Kregg, I was teaching school and still living at home. Kregg had moved to Fort Worth to work for a big accounting firm after graduating from college. We hadn't been dating long when his parents came into town for a visit, and he wanted me to meet them. I've joked ever since that I fell in love with his dad, Audie, before I did with Kregg. We married a few months later.

This is my son-in-law, Jeremiah. Isn't he adorable? This is the man I have been praying for since we found out we were expecting our very first child all those years ago. I love him with all my heart and couldn't ask for a more incredible man of God to bless our daughter. 

And do you know what?


He is constantly telling us that we are the best in-laws in the world. (Of course, he hasn't met all the in-laws in the world, so that could change . . . :)

But, I was just thinking about the fact that I feel the same way about my in-laws. I am so blessed by Kregg's parents. And looking back over the last 25+ years of marriage, I realized I have learned so much from them that has now given me the title "Best Mother-in-Law" from Jeremiah. So my "award" should actually have Marlene's name engraved on it. 

In her honor, I offer the following list of lessons she/they has taught me about being an in-law:

• Commitment: Audie and Marlene have been married for 56 1/2 years and will remain committed to each other for the rest of their lives. My parents also set this example for me.
• The importance of Family: Audie and Marlene have always gone to great lengths to build strong ties between family members. They frequently host everyone at their home and travel thousands of miles to visit each of us.
• Service: These two would do anything for any of us anytime, anywhere. Period. When we have a project, they come to help. When we are visiting them, they cook and clean and make sure everyone has everything they need. 
• Generosity: In addition to their time, they love to give presents. Wrapped gifts arrive for every birthday every year, if they don't hand deliver them. At Christmas, they buy for each of their children, their children's spouses, grandchildren, grandchildren's spouses and great grandchildren. They are on fixed incomes and we tell them over and over again that gifts are not necessary. But they just LOVE to give.
• Supportive: I have always known that, whatever we did, they would support us. When we told them we planned to homeschool their grandchildren, even though they had never heard of it, they supported us. When we told them we were called to adopt two little boys from Siberia, they didn't say, "Isn't five enough?" They supported us. When Kregg needed to find another job, they always offered words of encouragement and prayers. Any tough patch we have hit in the last 25 years, we knew we had them solidly behind us, cheering us on.
• Attendance: I wish I had counted over the years how many events they have driven to. (We live 160 miles away from them now and used to live 300 miles away) They came to watch little ones play soccer, flag football, church-league basketball, 4H events, graduations, birthday parties, music parties, special events at church, etc. Whatever we or our kids were doing, they were there to watch and cheer and enjoy.
• Fun: They are just fun to be around. We laugh and joke and tease all the time. They are always ready to play a game or just be silly with us.
• Patience: They are so patient with us, and with our children. 
• Work Ethic: These two work harder than just about anyone I know and always have. They taught their children to work hard and so I have a husband who blesses all of us through his hard work.
• Excellence: Whatever Marlene and Audie do, it is done with excellence. They don't believe in slopping through a job just to get finished. They expend whatever resources are necessary to complete the task they set their hands to with excellence. My husband learned this from them and our children are blessed because of it.
• Advice: They are always some of the very first ones we turn to for advice. And the topics we have sought their wisdom in range everywhere from home improvement projects to parenting to cooking to vehicle purchases, etc.
• Trust: I am sure there have been many times they really wanted to offer a caution or a concern as they watched us navigate our lives, but they trust us and they trust the Lord. They don't offer unsolicited advice. They wait to be asked what they think. They allow us room to stretch and grow, even when they might see us heading for a big bump in the road. 
• Love: No matter what, they love us. No matter what, they love their grandkids and great grandkids. 
• Faith: They love and serve the Lord, and have forever.
• Prayer: They believe in the power of prayer and they have faithfully lifted us up over and over and over again all these years. 

                                         

Now, how could you miss on the "Greatest Mother-in-Law" award when you have that kind of example from which to learn??


"Her children arise and call her blessed"