Look, Look Mommy Show You

Today's post is not by Major Betzann Carroll rather it is a tribute to Major Betzann Carroll, written by Cadet Helen Johnson. This tribute is written in a surprisingly similiar style to that of Mrs. Carroll. Thank You Helen for your tribute.

Steve

Look, Look Mommy Show You
By. Helen Johnson

As a very independent child, I did not accept help easily. I was born with many health problems and later was discovered to have a speech problem and many learning disabilities. When I was a young child, medically I fought to survive. Then, I fought to prove myself in school. As a result, I became an independent and determined person sometimes to a fault.

I am honored to have 2 parents who love God, each other, my brother & I and The Salvation Army. They taught me about the Lord, gave me morals and work ethic and instilled in me a love for others. Many times, my stubborn independence stopped me from listening to my parent’s teaching. Yet, my mother continually said: “look, look, mommy show you,” even if I rebelled against her help.

She would patiently take my untied shoe and say: “look, look, mommy show you” and I would pull the shoe away saying: “I can do it!” The older I become the more grateful I am that my mother was always there to show me, help me and love me and I am more willing to accept her help.

Betty, my mom, was one of the poor kids from the projects that were picked up in The Salvation Army van every Sunday. She had a difficult childhood. First, she lost her father at a young age then, had an abusive step-father. She went to training, young, single and innocent. Later, she married my dad and as a young officer with 2 sick kids they struggled to remain in the Lord’s calling.

Mom has always been very transparent in her journey to holiness. I could always see her growth in the Lord. She was excited about the Word. She had a commitment to serve others and a passion to evangelize. Her heart breaks for other’s pain. There were times when she was discouraged. There were times when she got tired in well doing. There were even times when she was bitter in her ministry. Yet, she would seek the Lord’s healing and wholeness openly. My mother showed me by her example how to seek the heart of the Lord. She said: look, look, mommy show you by her actions and showed me how to be a woman on God.

The lessons my mother taught me were always shown in her life. She showed me how to love my husband through the way she treated my father. She showed me how to love my daughter through the way she treated my brother and I. She showed me how to love others through her constant service and dedication to others in The Salvation Army.
My mother is the most humble person I know, always giving to others above herself. I clearly remember when she came to a deeper understanding of God’s love for her. Always giving to others, she was convicted of not loving herself enough. She persistently tried to share the truth of God’s amazing love with me. When I was a teenager, I had low self-esteem and stubbornly would not listen to my mother. Even in through my tough teenage years, my mom was there for me.

As I learn to be a good wife and mother, my mom is still there to show me and help me whenever I need it. While I’ve been in training I have looked to my mother for advice and comfort. When I am an officer, I will continue to look to my mother to show me how to love others, how to preach with power, how to lead and manger effectively and how to seek holiness. Thank you Mom (and dad)!