Articles
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
In April 1976, Jimmy Dean wrote a song entitled, “I.O.U.” I share it with you in honor of
Moms everywhere. Happy Mother’s Day—old and young. (Unfortunately, edited for space.)
Mom, I owe you for so many things, a lot of services, like night watchman for instance, for
lying awake nights listening for coughs, cries, creaking floorboards and me coming in too late.
I owe you for cleaning services, for the daily scrubbing of face and ears, all work done by
hand and for the frequent dusting of a small boy’s pants to try to make sure that he led a spotless
life and for washing and ironing, no laundry could ever do. For drying the tears of childhood and
for ironing out the problems of growing up.
I owe you for services as a bodyguard, for protecting me from the terrors of thunderstorms
and nightmares, and too many green apples. And Lord knows I owe you for medical attention,
for nursing me through measles, mumps, bruises, bumps, splinters and spring fever. And let's not
forget medical advise either. Important things like, don't scratch it or it won't get well. If you
cross your eyes they're gonna’ stick like that, and be sure to wear clean underwear, in case you're
in an accident.
And I owe you for veterinarian services, for feeding every lost dog that I dragged home at
the end of the rope and for healing the pains of puppy love.
And I owe you for entertainment that kept the household going during some pretty tough
times, for wonderful productions at Christmas, 4th of July and birthdays, and for making make
believe come true on a very limited budget.
And for cementing a family together so it would stand the worst kinds of shocks and blows
and for laying down a good strong foundation to build a life on.
And one thing, Mom, I will never ever forget when there were two pieces of apple pie left
and three hungry people I noticed that you were the one who suddenly decided that you really
didn't like apple pie in the first place.
These are just a very few of the things for which payment is long overdue, the person I owe
‘em to worked very cheap. She managed by simply doing without a whole lotta things that she
needed herself.
My I.O.U.'s add up to much more than I could ever hope to repay. But you know the nicest
thing about it all is that, I know that she'll mark the entire bill paid in full for just one kiss and
four little words, “Mom, I love you.”
[Sounds very similar to the sentiments found in Proverbs 31:10-31]
