Sermon Illustrations

As I looked through the old photo album,

my eyes fixed upon

a picture of Mom in her blue Sunday dress

wearing a soiled, yellow apron.

I smiled as, in my mind, I returned.

It seemed like just yesterday,

For I had left on it my small handprints—

From playing in Carolina red clay.

Mom had called us into dinner;

I could smell Sunday chicken fried.

I ran in and threw my arms 'round her

As my clay-red hands, she spied.

She pinched my cheeks and chuckled,

Sent me in to wash up and sit down.

Then sister Mary Ruth snapped Mom’s picture.

We kids giggled; Dad just made a frown.

Mom always wore an apron;

Yellow was her favorite color.

I'd sneak up and quickly untie it;

Hear her shout, “Scat, you little stinker!”

Her apron was Mom’s very favorite

thing of all that she wore:

Like a mother's badge of honor,

Displayed as fancy decor.

She'd wear it to the hen house,

Shape it as a round bowl to hold

Fresh eggs she had gathered,

Or to shield baby chicks from the cold.

She would use it like a basket

For tomatoes, or even fresh corn.

I recall the day it cradled

A dozen kittens, newly born.

She’d pull it up from the bottom,

Her dishpan hands to dry;

To fan herself in hot weather;

Or to wave it in, saying goodbye.

Mom’s apron could hide a shy child

Or wipe dirt from a little boy’s ear;

And the hankie she kept in its pocket?

That’s a memory I still hold dear.

Her sweaty brow would get patted

As she cooked over our old wood stove;

And it served as potholder for cornbread

From the oven she would remove.

She’d use it to carry ripe apples

That had fallen to the ground;

Or to collect crumbs from the table,

Toss’em to the birds waitin’ around.

Mom’s apron had multiple uses,

From a tote bag to shooing flies;

But she also used it, tenderly,

To wipe many teary eyes.

I suppose the apron was invented

To protect a mom’s pretty clothes,

And especially with my mom in mind:

How she loved it . . . only Heaven knows.

I reckon not too many ladies

Would care a whit for it, these days,

But Mom proved its limitless value

As she used it in so many ways.

Today as I look through my photos,

There’s one I still gaze upon:

It’s of Mom in her blue Sunday dress,

wearing a soiled yellow apron.

©Loyd C Taylor, February 2008

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • A. The Brilliant Scientist Sir Isaac Newton ...

    Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 22,697 views

    a. The brilliant scientist Sir Isaac Newton said that he could take his telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space. Then he added, “But when I lay it aside, go into my room, shut the door, and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of ...read more

  • What God Can Do  PRO

    Contributed by S Henriques on Sep 6, 2003
    based on 4 ratings
     | 12,883 views

    Henry Blackaby once wrote, “When God was ready to judge the world with a flood, He came to Noah. When He desired to build a nation for Himself, He turned to Abraham. When He heard His children groaning under Egyptian bondage, He appeared in a burning bush to Moses. They were three of the most ...read more

  • Giving In Theory  PRO

    Contributed by Susan Blader on Jan 21, 2007
    based on 3 ratings
     | 7,350 views

    Giving in Theory The story is told of the missionary who asked a new convert, “Pablo, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord’s work?” “You know I would gladly give them,” he replied. “Pablo, if you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five to the Lord’s ...read more

  • Giving In Theory  PRO

    Contributed by Susan Blader on Jan 21, 2007
    based on 3 ratings
     | 7,350 views

    Giving in Theory The story is told of the missionary who asked a new convert, “Pablo, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord’s work?” “You know I would gladly give them,” he replied. “Pablo, if you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five to the Lord’s ...read more

  • A Well-Known Speaker Started Off His Seminar By ...

    Contributed by Tim Zingale on Aug 8, 2005
    based on 2 ratings
     | 5,999 views

    "A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first let me do this. He proceeded to crumple the $20 dollar bill up. He then ...read more

Related Sermons