Mary Miller with son, Donald

While reading a MomSense article

about Donald Miller,

I came across a portion of the article where he talks about his mother, Mary Miller. Reading the article, my attention became focused on these words, 

“And she also cared about kids. For example, she would use the little extra money she had to buy a bucket of bubble gum, and every Saturday she’d go to the ghettos south of Houston and give kids gum. Then she’d tell them she’d be back on Sunday with a school bus and take them to church. Sometimes she would pick up 75 kids, drive them to Sunday school and teach them about the Bible. She did this faithfully for ten years.”  

While the article was about Donald Miller, New York Times bestselling author, I was drawn into his mother’s life. Writing to Jean Blackmer, the editor of MomSense, I asked if it was possible to interview Donald’s mother. Jean went to the trouble of finding out for me. I was someone who Jean did not know and had only met once through commenting on her article (Thank you, Jean!). Word came back that Donald’s mother would be glad to let me interview her. That’s when I’d find out it wasn’t ten years in the same ministry with children, it was eighteen!  Yes, she was faithful and loved the children, hers and others. 

Life Was Tough for the Millers 

“Life was tough, and I was poor and alone (a single mother raising two children).” She continued, “But I walked with God and I can look back saying, Wow! It was incredible, beautiful and God was good! He poured out His joy, pressed down, shaken together and running over!” 

I asked what would she like to share with moms who excitedly entered pregnancy, soon have young children and then wonder if their life is counting for anything amidst the daily grind.  Mary describes a portion of her son’s book, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”, where Donald speaks to getting into a kayak and excitedly shoving away from one shore, and paddling to the middle of the open waters trip, no land in sight either way. In the middle is scarey…..you can’t see the other shore. 

In comparing this to people’s lives, Mary explains, 

“You jump into your life excited and get to the middle, suddenly you can’t see where you’re going. People bail on their lives in the middle when what they need to do is the work. Keep rowing until the other shore is in site. Just keep going.” 

Speak a Future Into Your Children 

In the MomSense article (Nov/Dec 2010), Donald Miller describes to Jean Blackmer what he knew to be true from watching his mother. 

 “As a parent, you’re helping your kids find their stories, but you’re also living a story with them. You’re designing a story the whole family can live together.” 

Mary tells of times when they were so poor, yet in spite of her dire circumstances she found ways to expose her children to the opera, the symphony theatre under the stars…all free outdoor events.   They were exposed to travel as she encouraged her children to join the high school band which was so good that they went to state every year.   She explains that she “tried to speak a future into them”. She would introduce them to ideas and let God take over and open up their world a little bit. Her best advice is, “Don’t spend your time worrying, pray for them!” 

Father Fiction 

Should you think she advocates sitting back and just hoping things will happen, she wants mothers to know she pressed forward searching for spiritual giants in her Church for her son, Donald. Mary desired for him to learn a good work ethic so she found a man who owned his own business in her church that put Donald to work.  The Youth Pastor at First Baptist Pearland, David Gentiles, was the first person to challenge Donald to write. Donald shares in his book, “To Own a Dragon”, what it was like to grow up without a father. He talks about how David Gentile took the time to father him and affirm his purpose in life. Donald’s first writing assignment came from David allowing him to see that he ‘could move people with words, encourage them and change their lives forever’.  The book is now retitled, “Father Fiction“. The other titles by Donald Miller (blog) are: “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years“, “Blue Like Jazz“, and “Searching for God Knows What”    

Gumballs and Bus Rides 

18 years in Church Bus Ministry!

Mary believes that God’s many blessings were directly related to her faithfulness to serve Him in whatever way she could. Hearing a pastor once say, “Figure out why God is blessing you and don’t stop doing that,” she decided to give her time. 

Remember those eighteen years of bus ministry?  “I rode the bus on Sunday morning picking up children whose parents did not attend church.”  Mary explains that she ‘rode shotgun’ and kept the children involved with games while riding the bus.  She says she  “always felt God’s Hand in that ministry.” Her goal was to reach 100 children to all ride the bus to Sunday School; she made it to 98.   Mary still has the count sheet from that day. “Life was an adventure, and God was meeting my needs in miraculous ways. I couldn’t let go of Him because I couldn’t wait to see what was around the corner!  Mary said that she believes her children both caught on to that.  Mary was living her story, and helping her children find their stories by living it with them. 

I have to tell you, I love this woman, her spirit and her follow through!  She’s been a faithful worker in the kingdom of God and a good example to mother’s of all ages. 

“Keep on rowing..” 

What story are you writing with your children?  Are you holding on to them too tightly?  Leave your comments, I love to answer! 

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