On this day in history, November 10,1925, a baby girl was born in Butler County, Kentucky. She was the third of seven children. However, her birth went unnoticed by the world. Nor will it be listed among the important events on this day.
While her upbringing was simple and unsophisticated their family was close-knit, bathed in love, and based on Christian values and virtues. When she turned 18, she moved to Indianapolis to work in a factory. There she met the man of her dreams, would marry, quit work and begin a family. She would be unknown to anyone outside of her immediate family and friends. She would be a homemaker and help her husband in carving out a middle class lifestyle.
But her life made a profound difference in my life and many others. You see, she was Mom. Born 90 years ago today, Mattie Katherine Key, passed from this life on December 29, 2009. So, today allow me a little time to reflect and reminisce on my Mom’s legacy.
Legacy often implies a monetary inheritance or personal property. In actuality it is anything handed down from the past. What I have received is much more valuable than any estate or amount of money.
There is the legacy of Biblical values. Values that glorify God. Values that bless other people. Values that provide purpose. This kind of legacy is lasting. So many things in life are fleeting, changing, and transitory. But Biblical values provide a lasting legacy because they offer stability. And they teach personal responsibility.
The legacy that has been passed to me was founded in proper priorities. I was taught that work came before recreation. People are more important than things. The spiritual is more significant than the material. My Mom did not need a Harvard education to understand these values. She learned them in a rural Kentucky county. At home. At church. In the community. They are firmly fixed in an ethic that is decidedly Biblical.
When Mom met my Dad, Roy Weliever, she influenced him to become a Christian. Later he would serve as a Deacon, then an elder in the church. With Mom at his side, he taught many people the gospel. In fact, one winter, I remember Raymond Harris telling me that Dad was personally responsible for 11 people being baptized.
My Mom’s influence was reminiscent of her Mom’s impact on their family. Mom told me once how that Granny Key would have the children gather around in the evening and she would read the Bible. She set an example of Christianity in the home. An example to my Mom and her siblings. To my Papaw. To those in the community who knew her. It was an example of kindness, service and spiritual devotion. One that Mom continued in our family that impacted my father, my brother, Bill, and me.
Today, I see her legacy living on in the lives of our children, Kenny and Rachél, and their sons Miles and Roy. I am reminded of her influence as I minister, preach the gospel, and share the Word through this blog.
Many young people who were Florida College friends of Kenny and Rachél have eaten in her home, spent the night, and affectionately called her MaMaw, have also felt her influence.
Within me is a desire to see my Mom and wish her a happy birthday. But I am comforted and glad that she can enjoy her spiritual inheritance from the Lord.
Indeed, “A good (woman)leaves an inheritance to (her) children’s children” (Prov 13:22).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Nice tribute to your Mom , Ken. Your mom and dad were wonderful people.
LikeLike
Your parents were worthy as per Col. 1:10 and 3:17.I shall always be grateful for the influence and encouragement of Roy and Mattie Weliever. From: ThePreachersWord To: larryrayhafley@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 6:36 AM Subject: [New post] A Worthy Woman’s Legacy #yiv9480375134 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9480375134 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9480375134 a.yiv9480375134primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9480375134 a.yiv9480375134primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9480375134 a.yiv9480375134primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9480375134 a.yiv9480375134primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9480375134 WordPress.com | ThePreachersWord posted: “On this day in history, November 10,1925, a baby girl was born in Butler County, Kentucky. She was the third of seven children. However, her birth went unnoticed by the world. Nor will it be listed among the important events on this day.While her upbr” | |
LikeLike
Thanks, Larry
LikeLike
I was also lucky and thankful to have known your Mom while at N. Blvd. church of Christ in Tampa. She was beautiful inside and out. I always loved to talk and visit with her. She was a lot of fun to be around til the day she passed. Wish I could have known her longer.
LikeLike
Thanks, Billie. She enjoyed your visits.
LikeLike
Wonderful article. Thanks for the memories and the reminder of what a great lady she was. She opened her home to our family many times and we are truly grateful for having the privilege to have known her.
LikeLike
Thanks, Linda. We do have some good memories with your family.
LikeLike
I remember your mom and Dad so fondly form my early childhood and was in their home many times, always welcomed by your loving, godly, mother. She was one of the sweetest people I remember and even in later years when I visited them in Florida, I always felt welcome in their home. Such good memories…thanks for writing it and for sharing it.
LikeLike
Thanks, Candy, for you kind words.
LikeLike
Growing up in Clayton I can remember our parents speaking so fondly of your parents Brother and Sister Weliever, In later years while attending the many basketball games with my dad Paul, he would often times glance up at your picture that hangs in the gymnasium at Cascade High and comment on you and your folks and how reverent your family was in their walk on this earth!
LikeLike
Dave, I remember your family well. Thanks for your kind words and a little trip down memory lane.
LikeLike