Held by Love: A Son’s Tribute to His Mother’s Lasting Faith and Wisdom
Parenting is a sacred responsibility, and few embodied that calling as gracefully as my mother, Rose Sievert. Her love and wisdom shaped not only my childhood but also the person I became in both my personal and professional life. Looking back, two memories stand out as deeply formative reminders of the way God used her to guide me.
The first occurred when I was just five years old, during a visit to my grandfather’s modest Detroit home. He was a Polish immigrant who raised four children while working tirelessly in an auto factory. That night, my mother and I shared a small twin bed in the cramped guest room. I remember her holding me close against the cool night air, my little arm wrapped around her as I listened to her steady heartbeat. That moment—simple yet profound—became my earliest and most vivid encounter with unconditional, embodied love. I awoke the next morning still in her embrace, with the scent of rain and the song of birds filling the room. I felt safe, protected, and wholly loved.
That night was a divine gift, a cornerstone of the maternal bond that psychologists now confirm is crucial to a child’s development. Sadly, not everyone experiences such love. Worse still are those who endure pain instead of nurture from a parent. I remain eternally grateful that God blessed me with a mother who loved deeply and consistently.
The second memory spans hundreds of conversations at our kitchen table. These “kitchen-table talks” became the heart of our relationship as I grew older. Over cups of coffee or simple meals, my mother encouraged me, affirmed me, and taught me about integrity and self-worth. She reminded me often that I could achieve anything—so long as I did it the right way. Her quiet strength was rooted in moral clarity: always do what’s right, no matter how hard.
Though our talks weren’t explicitly religious, her values reflected timeless biblical principles. She frequently referenced the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, instilling in me a moral compass that would guide me for life. Whenever I faced difficult decisions, I’d silently ask, What’s the right thing to do? The answer was often grounded in what she had taught me.
My mother passed away peacefully in April 2001 at the age of 83. I miss her presence deeply—her arms that held me as a child, and her words that held me through adulthood. But her influence lives on in every choice I make.
Her faith-driven love taught me the value of integrity, the power of encouragement, and the immeasurable strength of a mother’s embrace. For that, and for her, I thank God every day.