A Tribute

Sometimes we have deep thoughts or feelings that are difficult to express in words. We struggle to find the words that express what we feel in our hearts. This is one of those type of situations. In spite of the difficulty, I want to find the words to honor my mother-in-law here.

How do you write a tribute to someone who is quiet and unassuming? How  do you write about someone who never won an election or any great awards or recognition? How do you write about someone who by the world's standards was no one important? However, with her quiet, sweet, and loving personality, she stood out in an amazing way. She was well loved and respected by everyone who came in contact with her.

Katie Mae Patterson was born on August 27, 1931. Her family was poor and never obtained wealth, fame, or fortune. She married Robert Donald Patterson. Together they had six children - three sons and three daughters. Life was never easy for them but Katie was a good wife and mother. She worked very hard to provide for her family.

Little did she know that life was about to become even more difficult. One night her husband had a fatal heart attack. He was only fifty years old. At that time, Katie was left to finish raising her four younger children alone while working to provide a home for them. The difficult life now became even harder. Katie was never one to complain about her circumstances. She just did what had to be done. She continued to work hard to do what she did best - love, provide, and care for her family.

Katie was a quiet and caring woman. She was always working to care for others. She was not one to argue or insist on expressing her views to others. At the same time, she was confident and unshakable in her faith in God. She remained faithful to her church and to her faith. She quietly studied the Bible and spent time in prayer for those who were sick, hurting, or in need. She might not have much, but she was quick to share what she had. If you visited her home, she would offer to fix you something to eat. It would not matter how little food she had available, she would find something  to fix and make it stretch so that no one would go hungry. At family gatherings, she was usually the last one to get her food. She was always worried that there might not be enough food for everyone. She would rather go hungry herself than not to have enough food for everyone else. She remained this way until her last days on earth.

There are so many other examples I could give such as stepping in to help raise her grandchildren when she was needed. The last nine months of her life, Yvonne and I were blessed to be able to welcome her into our home when she was no longer able to properly care for herself. Even then, she hated being a burden on anyone. She wanted to help others, not be dependent on others to help her.

When I think of Katie, there are a couple of Bible scriptures that come to mind. Proverbs 31:10 (KJV) says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." That is a good description of Katie. She was one of a kind - a precious jewel.

Another Scripture that reminds me of Katie is 1 Peter 3:3-5: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"

Katie's real beauty did not come from putting on fancy clothes or jewels. Her true beauty came from within. Her beauty came from her faith in God and her faithfulness to try to live a life pleasing to God. I truly suspect that she succeeded in these endeavors. I am confident that when Katie passed from this world to her reward, she was welcomed with open arms and greeted with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant".