Sunday Secrets: Always a Star - A Tribute to My Mom

Today marks two years since my mom has been gone from this life and present in the next—her eternal home in heaven with her Lord.

Many people knew my mom had musical talent. She could sing with gusto—she was a very expressive person, and it came out clearly in her presentation as a singer. One could say she had “soul.” I grew up hearing her sing—and singing with her. Some of my fondest memories are of day trips with my parents in which we would sing songs on the way to where we were going.

What most people didn’t know was that my mother actually had a couple opportunities for potential long-term stardom. Named Shirley after the child star Shirley Temple, she’d begun singing at a very young age. My grandmother would sometimes accompany her on the accordion. At the age of eight, my mom had the opportunity to sing and be broadcast on the radio—those in the business were telling my grandma that her little girl could definitely “go places.” Whether out of fear or simply a belief that she was doing the right thing, little Shirley’s mother did not let her go through with the performance.

As a teen, my mom traveled for a time with the USO and entertained troops as part of “The Stars of Tomorrow.” She was the lead singer of the group. At seventeen, the show was growing in popularity and my mom was excited to continue in the entertainment business—but her high school sweetheart saw things differently. He wanted to marry her…but only if she gave up her dream of making it big as a singer. She gave in—and always regretted it—especially since she did not know it would be an abusive marriage with little opportunity for self-expression or opinions—let alone dreams.

After her first marriage ended, my mother took some time to process and start a new life slowly. It was during a stint of living with her mom in Brookings, Oregon that she met the man who would become her next husband—and my father—Merle Miles.

My parents shared a love of music and singing. During my childhood, I got to see them do special music together a few times at church. And there was always music of some type playing at home. My mom never again made it onto a stage any bigger than that of a small local church. She never got to see her name in lights or be on television. She never got to do her Patsy Cline rendition for more than a handful of people. But what she did accomplish earned for her a different kind of stardom.

My mom could make people laugh. She could also make them cry. To hear her tell the stories of life was to have one’s emotions affected. She was generous, honest, and hard-working—and those who knew her spoke highly of her character. Though she didn’t receive much mothering growing up—at least not from her mom—Shirley was determined to be a good mom; she wanted her daughter to have no doubts that she was loved and appreciated.

My mom’s love for me ran very deep—and I know she would have done anything to ensure my safety, my happiness, or my faith in God. She taught me humor. She taught me to pray. She taught me to sing. I am who I am today, in large part, because of the virtues, values, and compassion she instilled in me. And even though I always wanted siblings, I’d gladly grow up an only child all over again for the blessing of having my mom be the one to tuck me in at night and tell me how much she loved me.

Though my mom never received the fame and fortune equal to her dreams, she was famous in my book. She was the real deal—a crown jewel—and to me she will always be a star.