Invisible wings. Mama had them. God gave them to her. Anyone who ever met and spent quality time with Katherine Hammett recognized this. From the time she was born near Christmas 1922, her parents showered her with such abiding devotion that little Katherine couldn't help but grow up knowing how to receive love, and, to her parents' credit, how to give love. Thus, the wings developed over time.
I think she must have been born humming and whistling, too. Half the time, she aimlessly hummed happy tunes as she folded clean laundry or while she stood at the stove stirring a pot of something good for supper. Many times we would hear her whistling as she merely walked through the house, her bright disposition so evident. Often, she would sit at her desk in the den humming softly with her head bent over an art project. Because Mama was creative, it was natural for her to explore various interests, all the while, maintaining a smoothly run household consisting of her husband and three children. She could draw, paint, knead clay to slap on the potter's wheel then bring forth treasures from the kiln, and arrange colored glass resulting in pretty stained-glass works of art. We marvelled at her ability to compose poems or rhyme party invitations at will. The decorated Christmas trees of our childhood were magical creations. In my mind's eye, I can still picture her carefully placing each tinseled icicle on the tree branches, one silver strand at a time, until the tree shimmered in the colored lights. The dozens and dozens of snowflakes, which she effortlessly crocheted from white cotton thread then starched to hang on the fragrant evergreen, glistened as if frosty and real. In her fifties, she would sally-forth in her full skirt and dancing shoes, go to dance class and clog with the best of them! Her fun side was such a joy to behold, and her tinkling laughter was contagious. She truly had a merry heart.
"Emphasize the best and minimize the rest." My sister reminded me recently that this was a favorite saying of Mama's. Another quote she liked is by second century Philo: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I add a third quotation, this one by Mother Teresa: "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." These three examples speak volumes about Mama's considerate ways and why others regarded her with great respect. She lightened the load of many with whom she came in contact during her sixty-three years of life.
Always genteel, a true lady in every sense, she was never one to utter an unkind word to or about anybody. She encouraged and inspired us, her three children; therefore, we grew up believing that we could accomplish anything we set out to do. My sister and I always wanted to be just like her. Our younger brother and our Daddy adored her. Daddy's pet name for her was "Presh," frequently reminding us that it was because she was so precious. All her grandchildren called her by this endearing name which Daddy had thoughtfully given her a quarter century before they were even born.
I think our beautiful-inside-and-out Mama opened herself up to life experiences, to her family, and to people from all walks of life because of compassion, tenderness and love. Her strong invisible wings allowed her to lift up those around her and bless them with hope, confidence and good cheer -- gifts that those of us who loved this dear lady cherished until the day she died and even now in memory, twenty-two years later. At her funeral service, countless friends remarked that Katherine Hammett was the only person they had ever known who didn't gossip, use profanity, or complain about anything. If she sounds too good to be true, just trust that I'm not exaggerating. Ask anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing this jewel of a lady. Ask if they ever caught a glimpse of her invisible wings. When time allows, you may wish to turn to Proverbs 31:10-31 and read the description of the Proverbs 31 woman. This passage in the Bible fits our angelic Mama so well. I end this tribute by quoting verse 28, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."