Recently I came across this photo that was taken at our daughter’s wedding. It reminded me that my wife was a special mother to our three girls and how they have become such great mothers themselves.
From time to time I hear our daughters say that they are just like their mother. Jeanne loved children and launched preschools at our church in Tucson and Diamond Bar. She enlisted the help of other mothers as these preschools grew. She also taught the young children on Sunday mornings in Sunday School at our church.
One of the things that made Jeanne an effective teacher was her willingness to do outlandish things to keep the attention of her young students. One time when they were studying about the birth of Jesus and the Christmas story she invited these little ones to participate in the lesson. One child was Mary and another was Joseph and several other children were shepherds. Jeanne played the role of an Angel. She wrapped a white sheet around herself and stood on a chair towering above the children to announce the birth of Jesus. She said she was the angel Gabriel and had come to announce the good news to the shepherds. But one of the young students objected. He said, “You’re not an angel – you are Jeanne Hopper!”
Many years later, one of our daughters was teaching a class of young children and she stood on a chair to keep the attention of her students. Then it dawned on her that she was just like her mother – doing outlandish things to capture the attention of her audience.
Someone said that imitation is the highest compliment. When your children or students do the same things you have done it reveals how much they have learned from you. Over the years I have enjoyed watching our daughters become wonderful mothers. They had strength and fortitude to make it through sleepless nights when their children were young. Now I marvel as I see how they encourage and guide their children through various stages and into their teen years.
I believe our daughters are wonderful mothers today because of the example they saw in their mother’s life. Several times in the Bible, the Apostle Paul told his readers to follow his example (First Corinthians 11:1). Let me encourage you to follow the example you saw in your mother’s life and become a mother your children will want to follow too.
You can read more encouraging stories about Jeanne’s life the book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. The price is $20 plus $5 postage. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.
Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper 
Nothing like starting the day with tears!!!
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