A Praying Mama

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I’m still excited about the 50th anniversary of Americans landing on the moon. I have been listening to a biography of Neil Armstrong. Before this book, my knowledge of Armstrong was pretty much limited to a few details about his being the first man to walk on the moon.

I’ve been impressed by how much Armstrong loved his wife, his children, his parents, and his siblings and their families. After learning that NASA had chosen him to go to the moon, Armstrong called his mama to tell her about it. She was a devout believer in Jesus. She got down on her knees and prayed about it. God gave her a peace that everything would be okay.

After Apollo 11 landed safely on Earth, reporters asked Armstrong’s parents for a statement. His mother responded: “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.”

When astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins returned from the moon, they were whisked away into this Airstream® camper, where they were quarantined for three weeks while doctors made sure they didn’t bring a plague back to earth from the moon.

NASA photo.

President Nixon spoke with the astronauts soon after they entered the Airstream. He told them: “This is the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation.” He also invited them to a state dinner in California after they got out of quarantine.

Armstrong also talked with his wife and two sons through the window of the Airstream®. He called his mother on the telephone, saying “Hello, Mom. This is Neil.” Don’t you know those were welcome words. She called him “Honey” and asked how he was doing. When he told her that all three astronauts were doing great, she said, “Oh, thank the Lord.”

After their quarantine, the three lunar astronauts attended celebrations, rode in parades, and traveled the world — 28 cities in 25 countries!

Ticker tape parade in New York City. The astronauts didn’t appreciate the folks who dropped whole stacks of punch cards, some of which stuck together and landed on their heads! Photo courtesy of NASA.

One of their first stops was Los Angeles where they attended the state dinner that President Nixon had invited them to attend. Guests included First Lady Mamie Eisenhower; Esther Goddard, the widow of Dr. Robert H. Goddard, called the father of modern rocket propulsion; 44 state governors; and many other famous people.

Neil Armstrong was most happy to see his family that night and he spent as much time as he could with them. Armstrong family members at the state dinner included his wife, his children, his parents, his grandmother, his brother and his family, and his sister and her family.

Neil Armstrong was a family man and a humble man. He never wanted to be in the spotlight.

A man’s pride will bring him low
But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23

I am still amazed that Americans really sent men to the moon and back and I’m amazed at the men who did it. I’m thankful that God listened to the prayers of Neil Armstrong’s praying mama.

Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving . . .
Colossians 4:2

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