I am a mother. However, it is another title that
is just as important, for I am a MOMMA. Momma Pigg to be exact. How
did I get that beloved name? Read on.
About
five years ago, I started a search for how to fill my empty nest once
our son, Andy, left home to join the Navy. Our daughter, Amanda, and
son-in-law, Peter, have lived in Korea and Germany for several years
now, which made another gap in our home. Many of you know me through
Troy United Methodist Church for organizing “Treasure our Troops” at the
holiday times for sending care boxes to those military members
associated with our church.
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| "Mom Sandwich" Picture |
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| Another "Mom Sandwich" Picture |
But
first, I was a Momma through Molly’s Adopt-a-Sailor. I began writing
letters to young men and women at our Navy boot camp, who were not
receiving any mail from home. My group of 12 Moms (isn’t 12 a familiar
number?) had children leaving at regular intervals to join boot camp,
and our hearts broke when we learned some of our finest were not
receiving mail. So we started letter campaigns.
As
these young sailors then left on business trips, they wrote back to us
about their shipmates who were not receiving any care packages, either.
Our hearts broke again. And we started shipping love out once a month
to groups we adopted through our networks. Our first adoption was 250
people, and we worried we would not be able to stretch our group of then
50 Moms to cover them all with some love. So, we asked our friends for
help. With God’s blessings, our mission to provide 250 international
calling cards grew to 750 calling cards! We knew our hearts were
healing.
Throughout the past five
years, we have sewn pillowcases, neck coolers and head wraps for
troops. We have sent warm scarves. We have provided socks, shampoo,
toothbrushes and toothpaste. We have sent peanut butter, nuts, beef
jerky, and donated Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn. Our
families have grown. We have made emergency runs to the Dollar General
Store with flat rate shipping boxes and address in hand to provide a
birthday box to those whom we learned were ignored on their special
days. Our church has provided shipping money and gifts to keep our
troops surrounded with love.
The
emails and letters have been sporadic, but constantly I have been called
Momma Pigg. It is a name badge to wear with honor. It is a testimony
to the love of Christ that has blossomed to full bloom. It has been on
the lips of those whom have returned and needed to talk with someone
about their newfound problems. It has accompanied me to military
funerals. It is shared with our family without any jealousy.
Momma. What a sweet sound. Momma Pigg (a.k.a. Carol Pigg)
