You ever meet someone and love them immediately? That’s how it was with my mother-in-law. We even enjoyed sharing the same birthday—somehow it was more fun to share it with someone else. Mama Lucy died ten years ago, and, now, with the passing of my mother, I am assuming the matriarchal role. I pray that I will bless my family as they blessed me.

If movies were true
and TV shows,
what we should do,
as everyone knows,
            is to avoid your mother-in-law.

But for me, I’ve found
     I like having her around.

She has a good sense of humor
     and likes to play games;
though she usually wins,
I don’t call her names
            except Mom and Grandma Lucy.

She loves to give presents:
       Come to my house
       and there you will see
       in every room
             something of Lucy.

Delft dishes in the kitchen,
a table and chairs,
clothes in my closet,
            a rocking chair downstairs.

She gives me pictures
       cross stitched just so
       and for my last birthday
       a gift card to Smokey Row.

She’s given me love,
       acceptance,
       encouragement
       and joy.

But the best gift she’s given
       is the man we adore,
       the son she raised to love Jesus
       and, yet, there’s still more.

We share the same birthday,
       so your Happy Birthday to You,
       is not just for Lucy
       and others with birthdays this spring.
         You sing it for me, too.